![]() An epic history can lie behind some terribly mundane word that you use every day and never thought twice about. ![]() But etymology does make the world a funnier and more beautiful place. ![]() That’s why it’s very rarely taught in schools, as schools are subject to the Tyranny of the Useful. There’s nothing in the subject that will qualify you for a job, or make you money, or save you in an emergency. You don’t really learn anything useful from etymology. But once you know this history, and know this origin, you can still imagine those ancient warriors charging bravely to their deaths shouting again and again “Should’ve gone to Specsavers! Should’ve gone to Specsavers!” And from there it got dragged off into the world of advertising, where it has become debased and familiar. From there the word started to mean the motto of any particular group, usually political. It became customary for nobles and chieftains to put this motto on their coat of arms, and so, in heraldry, those words written on the ribbony thing under the shield became known as the slogan. This slua-gairm could be the name of the clan, or some sort of motto. The two armies would face each other, draw their ancient swords, and charge, whilst shouting over and over again their army-cry or slua-gairm. Once upon a very long time ago, noble Gaelic warriors would muster for battle on some misty moor. The word slogan, as in advertising slogan, is an ancient Irish word. ![]()
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