171. Jorum

Kyle and Emily allow their cups to spilleth over in this cheery, beery, and all around festive dive into the word ‘jorum’. From Hebrew scripture to Arabic pottery to Jesus himself, these biblical vessels are full to the brim with etymological curiosity.

Things start to fizz in 18th-century England, thanks to playwright Henry Fielding and a puppet show goddess named Nonsense. The word bubbles into beer ballads and raucous operas, and inspires one and all to “Push About the Jorum,” as it carries with it an unmistakable mood: merriment in abundance.

From Dickensian tea to egg-flip by the fire, jorum becomes a toast to the season and a vessel for storytelling. It’s a spirited journey through centuries of literary tipples, festive flips, and a ghost who, like any of us, just wants a jorum of skee. So grab your own beverage of choice and join us for a word that leaves the belly full and the brain merry.