1496: Arab Spring Started in Winter. Jan 16, 2019

The Arab Spring was so named for a season, but it began in December of 2010. Much like how the combining form '-gate' started from Nixon's 'Watergate' scandal but are now affixed to other scandals like 'deflategate' and 'pizzagate', the Spring in question here was actually in 1968. The Prague Spring was a revolution in Czechoslovakia, and though again it started in the winter, largely took place in—and largely was reported during—spring. Certainly the Arab Spring took place partially during the springtime, but the name is from an older pattern.

Follow Word Facts on Youtube and support it on Patreon and get even more:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNofHfYEoM2l7fu2340gsDQ

https://www.patreon.com/wordfacts

Previous
Previous

1497: kaput and capot Jan 17, 2019

Next
Next

1495: Diphthongs Vs. Spelling Jan 15, 2016