American English Take-Home Exam
Gerrymander, combining Gerry with salamander.
guacamole – The origin of guacamole dates back to the times of the Aztecs. The word comes
from the ancient Nahuatl (a dialect of ancient Aztec) phrase ahuaca-mulli, roughly translating
into “avocado sauce” or “avocado mixture”, which Aztecs believed could be used as an
aphrodisiac. Avocados were a New World food that became quite popular with the Spaniards,
lending the term from the Aztecs. The Spanish conquistadors transliterated it as agucate, adding
the Mexican world mole “sauce” to the end. It is said the Spaniards liked their avocados three
ways, with salt, with sugar or both.
martini (cocktail) - There are several popular theories about the origin of the name of martini
cocktail. According to the first, the name comes from Martini & Rossi, an Italian firm that has
been exporting vermouths to the U.S from the 19th century. Supposedly, the name of the firm was
in existence then