From "mad as a wet hen" to "corn dodger" and "hobgoblin," Charles Funk's collections of curious words and expressions are a treasure trove of word origin.

If you've ever wondered why the candy is called butterscotch; why a certain Southern food is called a hushpuppy; why log supports in a fireplace are known as andirons, or, sometimes, firedogs; you'll be fascinated by the origins of the over 600 words discussed in "a book that gets curiouser and curiouser as it goes along"(San Francisco Chronicle).