Aoḋán Ó Conġaile @tinydonkey.bsky.social · 07/08/2026The word escalate did not exist before escalators. Its first recorded usage was in 1922. I learned this this morning and I still can't stop thinking about it. 1411426
🍺Donald Clarke 🎥 @donaldclarke.bsky.social · 10/08/2026I had to look this up as it sounded so much like classic etymology baloney. But you’re right! 110
Gerry McDied 10 years ago, on a night just like this @gerrymcbride.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Nice. The word ‘electrocution’ was coined to describe what an electric chair does. It uses electricity to execute you; it electrocutes you. 2111
Dermo @deadlocked.org · 07/08/2026That’s wild! That means we didn’t have phrases like ‘escalating tension’ or ‘escalation in violence’ until even more recently! 120
Grouchy Marx (aka Rupert) @grouchymarx.bsky.social · 07/08/2026So how did the word escalate come about? Not like video being Latin for seeing, kind of thing... 100
JBClamence @theirfall.bsky.social · 10/08/2026I blame the parents meself, the word 'Escalade' & the French. 🙃 010
Sam Hayne, Halloween Person🎃🐺 @lostwolfling.bsky.social · 07/08/2026I find this deeply upsetting. 020
Madeleine Lyes @cityintersect.bsky.social · 10/08/2026But the French for stairs is escalier. Surely that makes sense as a root of escalate? 110
Rachael @raen.eurosky.social · 07/08/2026I remember the old, wooden, nearly vertical escalator at Park Street station in Boston and I’m not surprised at all. 010
