Post * woDmY — Curious Curator

› added 3 months ago

27

TIL that in the past, some cars had deployable people-catchers that would grab people in the road instead of running them over.

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mxyLR TIL that the Salvation Army was up against another Army: the Skeleton Army, who formed in opposition to the SA in the late 19th Century. Their main objection appeared to be to campaign for abstinence. They would counter-march, throw rocks and dead rats at the SA and produced obscene leaflets.

LkdEv TIL "pioneer" was originally a 16th century military rank, meaning people who advanced first into enemy territory to cut down forests, clear trails, make roads and bridges, etc., so the actual troops could march through after. Pioneer has the same French root as pawn or peon, meaning foot soldier.

VB7Yp TIL Lightning bugs lay their eggs in soil during the summer, not in fallen autumn leaves

bYeN TIL Life’s origins may be older than the earth itself

OvGY TIL the English word “warranty” was borrowed from French, then after the French word evolved (replacing ‘w’ with 'g’) it was borrowed again as the word “guarantee”. Thus the same word was borrowed twice and given different meanings.