The piece that protrudes from the top end of an umbrella is called a "ferrule."
The Dutch airline is KLM – or would you prefer to say Koninklijke-Luchtvaart-Maatschappij.
An earthquake on Dec. 16, 1811 caused parts of the Mississippi River to flow backwards.
Champagne was invented by a monk. His name was Dom Pérignon.
The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia.
The little hole in the sink that lets the water drain out, instead of flowing over the side, is called a porcelator.
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. Thus the origin of the phrase “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
The reason most mosquito bites itch is because mosquitoes inject saliva into the persons skin before they suck your blood. They take it out once they are done, but if they are forced to fly away, they don't get a chance to draw the saliva out. And it is their saliva that causes the itch.
The name Reebok was named after the African Gazelle.
The kings in a deck of cards each represent a great king from history. The king of spades is King David, the king of clubs is Alexander the Great, the king of hearts is Charlemagne, and the king of diamonds is Julius Caesar. |