194. Eavesdrip: The Rainy Day Origin of Snooping

Better pack an umbrella, because this week Emily and Kyle are seeking shelter from the rain. A conversation beginning at thatched roofs trickles down to local snoops, as our hosts discuss the meaning and origin of the word eavesdrip.

The pair discuss why your roof juts past your walls, how a singular word can accidentally become plural, and what haircut was all the rage in the Anglo Saxon era. Kyle learns that building ordinances have a surprisingly long history, although they look a little different in Rome than in England.

Emily reveals that not everyone resting under eaves is trying to avoid the rain. Eavesdropping becomes a criminal offense, and not for the reason you might think. And our hosts chat about medieval offenses such as nightwalking, theft, and plain old gossip.