The Etymologicon is a brilliant map of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language.

What does organised crime have to do with church organs? And what's the connection between blank cheques and check mate?The Etymologicon takes you on a journey through the hidden connections between words. Why is champagne the ideal drink for a campaign, what does shooting pool have to do with chickens, and why is black really white? There's always a connection. Sometimes, it's obvious: an actor's role was once written on a roll of parchment, and cappuccinos are the same colour as the robes of a Capuchin monk. Sometimes the connection is astonishing and a little more hidden: who would have guessed that your pants and panties are named after Saint Pantaleon, the all-compassionate?Springing from writer and journalist Mark Forsyth's hugely popular blog The Inky Fool and including word-connection parlour games perfect for any word-lovers get-together, The Etymologicon is a brilliant map of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language.