Boot Camp

Ammonia

The cleaning agent that we use today actually was named for  the temple of Ammon at Siwa in the Libyan desert. The temple was visited by thousands of pilgrims over the years, each left their camels tied up in the near vicinity. Over the course of centuries the sand soaked up thousands of gallons of camel urine.

In 106 BC the Romans took over the site and turned it into a garrison. Soldiers digging new foundations came across large, foul smelling crystals in the ground. They were shipped back to Rome for study. Eventually a use was found for the cleaning power of the crystals, now dubbed ammonia. Eventually they found their way into daily Roman life for things such as laundry and oral hygiene. (Don’t think about it too much.)

Tommy

Slang for British Soldier

The first known use of Tommy in reference to the British soldier was back in 1743. It came from the fact that there were a lot of young British men named Tommy Atkins, so it was a common name. Later in 1815 the army rolled out new forms and pay books where all the example pages were filled out with the name Tommy Atkinson. After that Tommy just sort of stuck for any British soldier.

Ninja

An Assassin of Japanese origin

OK, so this one will be kind of short but it is totally fascinating. As we know them from the movies, black clad, using throwing stars and katanas most likely never existed. Though “ninjas” were real their myth sort of evolved over time. You see the actual term “ninja” is not of Japanese origin. It was coined by Westerners in Japan during the mid-19th century. The actual phrase used to describe these shadow warriors was Shinobo no mono, “person of stealth”. Westerners being the kind of people they were decided they needed a shorter term, so the borrowed on from the Chinese. Nin (stealth) and ja (person). Put together and we have nin-ja. (stealth person). So yes, it is actually a Chinese word.

Interestingly enough, the first time the word “ninja” appeared in print? 1964 in You Only Live Twice by Mr. Ian Flemming.  So maybe it should be Ja, Nin Ja… (See? Bond. James Bond. Get it? Nevermind.)

Bury the Hatchet

Make Peace

OK, so this one should be no great mystery. For years before the Europeans came to the New World native tribes would conclude their peace treaties with the practice of burying axes or other weapons to signify a truce. Though most likely they would have used the term tomahawk. As the men from the Old World came they observed the tradition and coined the phrase.

In an interesting side note. The tribal gatherings the led to the “burying of the hatchet” were called pow-wows by the Europeans. This phrase stemmed from the word po’wah. That term actually was the title given to the medicine man that was in charge of the peach talks, not the talks themselves.

Cold Feet

Apprehension or Fear 

Also known as Immersion Syndrome or trench foot it was common among World War I troops. They would often spend long periods standing around in the trenches filled with cold and muddy water.

It was very painful, but also guaranteed a trip to hospital. Those who didn’t want to be shot at would endure the pain until just before a major offensive, reporting to the hospital at the last minute.

The first documentation of the condition can be traced back to the Napoleonic Wars.

Rank and File

Unexceptional members of an organization, usually numerous

Back in the day… when soldiers got into formation they usually stood in ranks (meaning side by side) and in file (one behind the other). This mass of men generally was formed by the basic soldier, whom there were usually many. In the mid-19th century the phrase left the military and was sued to denote common people or employees in general.