Escapades in Etymology

Here's something I've spent way too much time thinking about this afternoon (look, it's negative bloody 5 out - I'm making my fun inside today) - I found these 4 word etymologies on a blog (sorry don't remember which one, & frankly I'm sure the owner won't object to going uncredited) & something about the explainations didn't sit well so I decided to do a little cross-check of my own. Found a cool online etymology dictionary which right away refuted number 2 & 3, then a quick Google & AskOxford.com smartly killed number 1 & 4 as well. So there's your lesson for the day kids - don't believe everything you read in blogs... including this one.

1. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured to the bed frame by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep tight". UTTER SHYTE

2. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month or what we know today as the honeymoon. BULLOCKS

3. In ancient England, a person could not have sex unless they had consent from the King (excluding the Royal Family). When one wanted to have a baby, they 1st had to seek consent from the King, & should he agree, his majesty then gave them a placard to hang upon their door while they were doing the deed. That magical placard was inscribed F.U.C.K. (Fornication Under Consent of the King). W.H.A.T.E.V.E.R.

4. In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language. GARBAGE OF LAUGHABLE FALSITY