Arts & Culture The Naughty Etymologist The Naughty Etymologist Knows About That Water-Cooler Gossip Ideastream Public Media | By Jacqueline Gerber Published December 9, 2023 at 12:23 PM EST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 0:39 aga7ta / Shutterstock The naughty-sounding word for Friday, Dec. 8, started as a nautical term and became a synonym for gossip.