Received Ideas about Etymology in Quotes 17

Because so many popular yet untrue etymological stories have naval themes – like the made-up theory that "posh" comes from "port out, starboard home" – some etymologists joke that the word "canoe" stands for the "Committee to Ascribe a Naval Origin to Everything". (@HaggardHawks)

The word “cockney” is said to originate from “coken ey” which is Middle English for cock’s egg. It was a derogatory term to describe how strange and unnatural the accent was. (Wellingtongoose. livejournal.com)

In the Middle Ages, a plank was erected across the bow of the ship and people sat on it when they needed to go to the toilet. Whatever they produced was washed off the bow of the ship by the water rushing by underneath them. Their heads could be seen by whoever was steering at the rear of the ship. Hence the name The Heads. (KW)

I was told “mufti” was from old China Station rules where wearing Military Uniform was Forbidden in The Interior. (RR)

I read somewhere (and "someonce") that "sterling" comes from "easterling", and refers to merchants from the Hanseatic League. (JP)

Vindaloo is based on the Portuguese dish carne de vinha d'alhos - meat in garlic and wine marinade. (@Eaterofsun)

Ovaltine was created in Switzerland in 1904 under the name Ovomaltine. It is known as Ovaltine in English speaking countries due to a misspelling on a trademark application form. (John Harrison)

The Turk’s Head Inn was established in 1233, after Turkish pirates attacked Penzance during the Crusades. The pub claims to be the first in England to bear the name. (Via FB. Nicholas Nickleby set off for Dotheboy’s Hall from the Turk’s Head in North London. Turk’s heads were a motif in heraldry – many odd pub names are from local coats of arms.)

Knyvett: This long-established surname is of Anglo-Norman origin, and derives from "cnivet", the Norman pronunciation of the Old English pre 7th Century "cniht", owing to the French difficulty with the "h" of "cniht". (surnamedb.com. The Normans arrived some time after the 7th century.)

The full set here.

More here, and links to the rest.