Griffin Dawg

Griffin Dawg

Monday, March 30, 2009

Etymology of Potamus


Little did we know that our silly pet name for Griffin actually means something rather magestic. We've been calling him Potamus since we used to wrap him in a Kiddopotamus swaddle blanket and Jake casually referred to Griffin as a "Swaddlepotamus." It's his number one nickname and our blog address. Griffin answers to it. Well, as much as he answers to anything. I just know we'll be screaming "Gooooooo Potamus!!" like dipshits at his high school graduation. Anyway, Jake did some research and now wikipedia has validated our little Potamus.

Potamus
is an anglicization of the Ancient Greek potamos (ποταμός) meaning river. Hippopotamus means river horse. Griffinpotamus means river mythical winged monster with an eagle's head and a lion's body. Isn't that pleasant?

"River" was one of the names on Griffin's "Official Baby Name List" that we both liked but it never made it to the finals. How nice to (sort of) reclaim it accidentally.

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