Interesting word origins

Slave During the middle ages, the advanced peoples of Europe raided the Balkans for slaves. Bosnians and other Slavic people were so widely sold as slaves that the word “slave” in English derives from their name - as do words for slave in German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic. In later centuries the word and the condition were then applied to Africans. Forbes, March 14, 1994.

Meander The Meander river flows in a curvilinear course from Asia Minor to the Aegean Sea.

Sardonic A plant, Ranunculus Sceleratus, was known as the Sardinian Herb. It was formerly used in medicine and was so sour that it convulsed the face of those who took it. Because the facial features resembled a bitter, mocking laugh, a face-twisting smile became known as Sardinian or Sardonic.

Dun Derived from the name of Joe Dun, bailiff of Lincoln, England, in the time of Henry VII. He was so successful in collecting debts that his name became a synonym for “urging payment.”

-chester Place names ending in "-chester" were once the sites of Roman camps, or castra.

Flak Abbreviation of the German word "Flugzeugabwehrkanone." Flug = flying. Zeug = stuff, craft. Ab = off. Wehr = defense. Kanone = cannon.

Panzer Medieval German word for a coat of mail; now signifies armour.