Eponyms Quiz
1 / 15Discover words that come from people's names!
15 quick questionsNo sign-upFree to playTap an answer below to begin ↓
The word 'sandwich' is named after which historical figure?
About Eponyms Quiz
Give your memory a workout with Eponyms Quiz: 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions, free to play right in your browser. Discover words that come from people's names! Expect to spend about 7 minutes; every question comes with an explanation, so you learn something even when you miss.
A few sample questions
1. The word 'sandwich' is named after which historical figure?
Answer: The Earl of Sandwich
The sandwich is named after John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792). Legend has it he asked for meat between two slices of bread so he could eat without leaving the card table.
2. Which scientist gave their name to the unit of temperature 'Fahrenheit'?
Answer: Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736) was a Polish-German physicist who invented the mercury thermometer and developed the Fahrenheit temperature scale.
3. The word 'pasteurize' comes from which famous scientist?
Answer: Louis Pasteur
Pasteurization is named after French chemist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), who developed the process of heating liquids to kill harmful bacteria, making milk and other beverages safer to drink.
4. Braille, the tactile writing system for the blind, is named after whom?
Answer: Louis Braille
Braille is named after Louis Braille (1809-1852), a Frenchman who lost his sight as a child and developed the raised-dot reading and writing system at age 15.
5. The word 'diesel' (as in diesel engine) comes from whom?
Answer: Rudolf Diesel
The diesel engine is named after Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913), a German engineer who invented a more efficient internal combustion engine that used compression ignition rather than spark plugs.
Things you'll learn along the way
- Captain Charles Boycott (1832-1897) was a land agent in Ireland whose tenants refused to deal with him in 1880 over unfair rents. Their organized shunning of him gave English the word 'boycott.'
- Sideburns are named after American Civil War General Ambrose Burnside (1824-1881), who wore distinctive thick strips of facial hair. Originally called 'burnsides,' the syllables were later reversed.
- The saxophone was invented by and named after Adolphe Sax (1814-1894), a Belgian instrument maker who patented the instrument in 1846.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my progress if I close the page?
Your overall progress — XP, streaks, and badges — is saved in your browser automatically. A quiz that's underway restarts if you leave mid-game, but at about 7 minutes, Eponyms Quiz fits comfortably in one sitting.
How many questions are in Eponyms Quiz?
Eponyms Quiz has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
Is Eponyms Quiz free to play?
Yes. The entire SeniorBrainGames catalog — including Eponyms Quiz — is free, with no sign-up required, no time limits, and no ads on top of the game. It also works offline once the page has loaded once.
How long does Eponyms Quiz take?
Most players finish Eponyms Quiz in about 7 minutes. You can pause between questions, replay it as often as you like, and there is no penalty for taking your time — answers are explained after you submit them.
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