Words From Body Parts

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Date:

Instructions: Many English expressions and words use body parts in unexpected ways. How well do you know these anatomical word connections?

1.
The word 'captain' comes from the Latin 'caput', meaning which body part?
A
Head
B
Hand
C
Chest
D
Heart
2.
The word 'muscle' derives from the Latin 'musculus', which literally means what?
A
Hard bone
B
Tight rope
C
Little mouse
D
Strong arm
3.
What body part does the word 'courage' come from (via Latin 'cor')?
A
Spine
B
Heart
C
Brain
D
Stomach
4.
The word 'digital' comes from 'digitus', the Latin word for what?
A
Number
B
Finger
C
Screen
D
Button
5.
The word 'pupil' (of the eye) comes from Latin and refers to what?
A
A window
B
A dark spot
C
A small opening
D
A little doll (the tiny reflection of yourself)
6.
If you 'shoulder' a responsibility, you are doing what?
A
Refusing it
B
Pushing it aside
C
Accepting and carrying it
D
Sharing it equally
7.
What does it mean to 'foot the bill'?
A
Pay the total cost
B
Walk away from debt
C
Calculate the amount
D
Kick something
8.
The word 'abdicate' contains the Latin root for which body part?
A
Abdomen (belly)
B
It does not contain a body part root
C
Arms
D
Back
9.
The word 'sincere' is sometimes said to come from Latin meaning 'without' what body-related substance?
A
Wax
B
Bone
C
Blood
D
Skin
10.
What does it mean to 'elbow' your way through a crowd?
A
To push through forcefully
B
To wait patiently
C
To politely ask
D
To walk around it
11.
The word 'artery' and the word 'art' both come from a root word meaning what?
A
Red
B
Blood
C
To fit together
D
Life force
12.
What does it mean to 'nose around'?
A
To sneeze frequently
B
To investigate or snoop
C
To walk carefully
D
To smell something bad
13.
The word 'capital' (as in capital city) comes from which body part in Latin?
A
Heart
B
Hand
C
Head
D
Spine
14.
What does the phrase 'to eye something' mean?
A
To look at it with interest or suspicion
B
To cry about something
C
To wink at someone
D
To close your eyes
15.
The word 'cervical' (as in cervical vertebrae in the neck) comes from 'cervix', meaning what in Latin?
A
Throat
B
Neck
C
Brain stem
D
Spine

Answer Key

Question 1

A. Head

Question 2

C. Little mouse

Question 3

B. Heart

Question 4

B. Finger

Question 5

D. A little doll (the tiny reflection of yourself)

Question 6

C. Accepting and carrying it

Question 7

A. Pay the total cost

Question 8

B. It does not contain a body part root

Question 9

A. Wax

Question 10

A. To push through forcefully

Question 11

C. To fit together

Question 12

B. To investigate or snoop

Question 13

C. Head

Question 14

A. To look at it with interest or suspicion

Question 15

B. Neck

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