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This week, Kyle and Emily take a slippery step into the world of verglas. A sleek French borrowing with roots in poetry, peril, and absolutely eating it on the pavement. What does it have to do with medieval “Verses of Death”, physics, and the word vitriol? You may want to tread carefully.
Verglas isn’t just a lexical curiosity. In fact, it’s one of the most quietly treacherous things you’ll never see coming. From black ice to silver thaw, hoarfrost to glaze, Emily sorts through the sparkling terminology of frozen water and the secret lives of icy layers, all while managing to stay on two feet.
From mountaintops to Montreal, Kyle discovers how a single term can bridge medieval French poetry, weather reports, and the high-stakes world of alpine climbing. And although the frigid ferocity of black ice remains a threat on the peaks, the crystalline vision of frozen-over fields is a Robert Frost poem just waiting to happen.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore