GamerDude discovered a new phrase this week: "fossil word." That's an old or ancient word that we no longer use in its original context, but still use as part of a phrase we continue to say today. "Bumper crop" is a prime example because the "bumper" from that phrase used to mean a large drinking vessel, filled to the brim. That use of the word "bumper" has essentially disappeared, except in the context of describing a "bumper crop" - a crop that is full, or abundant.  GamerDude talks about a number of fossil words, including vim, knell, wedlock and pink.

He also talks about "eggcorns."  An eggcorn is a misheard idiom or saying, and exists because people either don't know, or don't understand, the meaning or origin of the original phrase.  "Chomping at the bit," for instance, is an eggcorn because the actual phrase is "champing at the bit."  But because "champing" is a fossil word, and people don't know what "champing" actually is anymore, they substitute "chomping" and create an eggcorn.  GamerDude talks about other eggcorns, including "for all intensive purposes" and making a "mute point."

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