What's an Eponym? A word derived from someone's name.

For example... the sandwich is named for the Earl of Sandwich. It is said that he was so involved with a card game that he asked his servant to bring him a serving of meat between two slices of bread to satisfy his hunger pangs. That "invention" became known as the sandwich.

Bobbies. Sir Robert(Bobby) Peel was a British politician. In 1850, he organized a police force in England called bobbies.

Braille. This alphabet of raised dots is named for Louis Braille of France. He invented it so his blind students could read without seeing.

Cardigan. Mr. Rogers' favorite sweater ~ the cardigan ~ was first worn by the Earl of Cardigan in Great Britain.

Guillotine. The instrument with which Marie Antoinette's head (and many others) was severed from her body was named for Dr. Joseph Guillotin of France in 1789. He was a doctor who believed that beheading was more humane than hanging.

Leotards. The French aerial gymnast, Julius Leotard, designed this basic piece of dancewear back in the 1800s.

Boycott. This act of avoiding trading or dealing with someone as a means of protest came from Charles C. Boycott. He was an English land agent in Ireland, who was... well... boycotted for refusing to lower rents in 1880 .

Chauvinist refers to someone who is excessively patriotic. It is named for Nicolas Chauvin, a character in a 19th-century play who was totally devoted to Napoleon.

Diesel. This form of internal combustion engine or a vehicle driven by it; was named Rudolf Diesel, who built the first successful diesel engine.

Frisbee. The disc we hurl is named for William Russell Frisbie, a pie shop owner in Bridgeport, Connecticut, who perhaps had too much time on his hands and too many pie pans at his disposal.

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