Take Annie Oakley for example. I asked a couple of students, who are avid baseball fans, if they had ever heard the term an "Annie Oakley" in baseball. They had no clue what I was referring to. I then told them it means a base on balls, or an intentional walk. This "free pass" to first base is a 'freebie' referring to tickets that were punched with holes to designate that the tickets were free (so they couldn't be sold) to a sporting event. Why Annie Oakley? Because the famous rifle woman would perform feats with her gun--expertly shooting holes in small cards which were her targets. Baseball observers quickly adapted the term and it has survived as anything with many holes punched in it or a "free" trip to first base when the pitcher throws four balls.
There's also the word personality of Charles C. Boycott. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, Boycott was the estate agent of the Earl of Erne in Ireland. This agent, in 1880, was to be part of a test case for a new land reform policy that stated that any landlord who "would not charge lower rents or any tenant who took over the farm of an evicted tenant would be given the complete cold shoulder" by politician, Charles Parnell, and supporters who instituted the reform. Boycott refused to lower his rent and even ejected his tenants. Because of this, Boycott and his family were isolated from the community without servants, farmhands, store service, and even their mail wasn't delivered. The townspeople boycotted the Boycotts.
There are countless other examples from Aleck Hoag ("smart aleck") to Charlie Smirk (being called a 'Charlie' --foolish person) to even the infamous Norse Warrior, Berserker, who went into battle bare of any chain mail for armor...now, that's beserk! Which brings me to the word, jeremiad.
This was another new word to my vocabulary, although, I'm familiar with its historical connection and story of the prophet, Jeremiah. I will not 'steal' any of student blogger, James Glenn's post'--suffice it to say, it is another interesting example of how our language incorporates words that encapsulates a fascinating story of a person who individually takes us on a journey...mysterious in scope and influential in meaning as we continue to wonder at the beauty of language and how words have found their way through the waves of time.