Is "spray," meaning "an arrangement of flowers," related to "spray," meaning "particles of water"?

Because flowers are often spread out in a pattern resembling a shower or fountain, you might think so. But the flower "spray," which first appeared in Middle English during the 1200s, is unrelated to the liquid "spray," which came into English from the Middle Dutch "sprayen" (to sprinkle) in the 1600s.

Which of these word pairs derive from the same source?

1. Stalk (part of a plant) and stalk (track stealthily).

2. Trip (a journey) and trip (a stumble).

3. Bulldog (a canine) and bull (a bovine).

4. Fiddle (violin) and fiddle (to spend time in aimless activity, meddle).

5. Pest (an annoying person or creature) and pester (to harass).

6. Ledger (a book containing records or accounts) and ledge (a narrow surface or shelf).

Answers and explanations:

1. People stalking animals do sometimes hide behind the stalks of plants, but the plant "stalk" comes from the Old English "stela" (stem, support), while the stealthy stalk derives from the Old English "stelan" (to steal).

2. Both "trips" derive from the Middle English "trippen," which meant "to dance or move lightly on one's feet," as in the phrase "trip the light fantastic," coined by the poet John Milton. Because such energetic movements could lead to missteps, "to trip" soon came to mean "to strike the foot against something so as to stumble or fall." The noun "trip" first meant "dancing, skipping," but then extended to mean "a short journey" and eventually "any journey," including one induced by psychedelic drugs.

3. These words are related, but not because a bulldog is fierce and strong like a bull. Bulldogs are so called because they were once bred and used to fight or bait bulls.

4. Because someone who plays the fiddle moves the hands and fingers rapidly, the verb "fiddle" came to mean "to move the hands or fingers restlessly" and eventually "to spend time in fruitless activity," "to meddle" and "to make minor manual movements."

5. Though related in meaning, "pest" and "pester" come from two different roots — "pest" from the Latin "pestis" (plague), and "pester" from the Middle French "empestrer" (to cripple, hobble, embarrass).

6. Both words derive from the Middle English verb "leggen" (to lay). A ledge lies flat, and a ledger, being heavy, usually lies flat as well. So, the next time you pick up a heavy ledger, picture yourself hoisting a weighty ledge of stone, especially if your finances have hit rock bottom.

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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