Arts & Culture The Naughty Etymologist The Naughty Etymologist: Fear Not Age! Ideastream Public Media | By Jacqueline Gerber Published April 6, 2024 at 8:38 AM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 0:33 John Lee Fox / Shutterstock The rude-sounding word for Friday, April 5, has its origins in Britain. It describes something simple and cold, but also something trite and hackneyed.