Language is a living thing. It changes, shifts, and sometimes turns words on their head. Many common terms are words that changed meaning so dramatically they’d make you laugh, blush, or scratch your head
Here are twelve everyday words whose original definitions might surprise you.
Awful: Originally a Compliment
Once upon a time, “awful” meant “awe-inspiring” or “worthy of awe.” Cathedrals and kings could be described as awful, in a good way. Over the centuries, the meaning flipped to the negative sense we use today, meaning terrible or unpleasant.
Girl: Used to Mean Any Young Person
In Middle English, “girl” didn’t refer specifically to a female child. It meant any young person, regardless of gender. To specify, people used “knave girl” for a boy and “gay girl” for a girl. Only later did the term “girl” acquire its gendered meaning.
Check out The Bizarre History of Everyday Sayings for more language surprises.
Naughty: Once Meant “Having Nothing”
“Naughty” began as “naught,” meaning nothing. A “naughty” person was often poor or needy, someone with little or nothing. By the 16th century, it had shifted to mean immoral or wicked, and later softened to today’s mischievous sense.
Meat: Any Food
In Old English, “mete” referred to all food, not just animal flesh. Bread, vegetables, or fruit could all be considered meat. That’s why the term “sweetmeat” refers to candy, not beef jerky.
Silly: Holy, Then Innocent, Then Foolish
“Silly” started as a compliment meaning “happy” or “blessed.” Over time, it evolved to mean “innocent,” then “harmless,” and finally, “foolish.” It’s a perfect example of how meanings can take a humorous turn over centuries.
For identity shifts beyond language, see Cities That Changed Names — and Why.
Clue: A Ball of Yarn
The original “clew” meant a ball of thread or yarn. In Greek myth, Theseus used a clew to find his way out of the Minotaur’s labyrinth. The word’s modern sense, “a hint to solving a mystery”, came from that ancient metaphor of following a thread to uncover the truth.
Nice: The Biggest Flip of All
Derived from the Latin nescius (“ignorant”), “nice” originally meant foolish or stupid. Over time, it has evolved in meaning from “fussy,” “precise,” and “refined” to its current sense of “pleasant” or “kind.”
Bully: A Term of Endearment
In the 1500s, calling someone a “bully” was affectionate—it meant “sweetheart” or “fine fellow.” Only later did it evolve to describe someone who uses strength or intimidation to harm others. Talk about a reputation gone bad.
See Everyday Gadgets That Were Sci-Fi First for tech that jumped from fiction to your pocket.
Eerie: Peaceful, Not Spooky
“Eerie” once meant timid, gentle, or peaceful in Old English. The modern association with fear and the supernatural came much later, probably because “eeriness” suggested a kind of strange calm that felt unsettling.
Fizzle: A Word for Passing Gas
In the 16th century, “fizzle” meant to break wind quietly. By the 19th century, it had acquired a more refined, metaphorical meaning: to fail or die out. A project that “fizzles” today still kind of stinks; just in a different way.
Manufacture: Made by Hand
Before industrialization, “manufacture” literally meant “to make by hand” (manus = hand, facere = to make). Machines reversed the meaning. Now we use it almost exclusively to describe things made without human hands.
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Egregious: Remarkably Good
From the Latin egregius, meaning “distinguished” or “outstanding,” “egregious” was once a term of high praise. Over time, the meaning soured into something “remarkably bad.” Today, it’s the kind of word you’d use for a significant blunder, not an achievement.
Words in Motion
These twists in how meanings changed remind us that language is never static; it is constantly evolving. It reflects culture, humor, and history. The next time you call someone “nice” or something “awful,” remember: once upon a time, you might have meant the exact opposite.
