Welcome back, curious minds! Here are 20 more things that look one way but turn out to be something entirely different. After our first batch of 25 baffling examples, we’ve dug up another set of misnamed marvels that will make you question everything you thought you knew. Got a favorite that didn’t make the list? Drop it in the comments!
20 More Things That Defy Their Names
1 Hundred Years War
Despite the romantic ring of its title, the Hundred Years’ War stretched for 116 years, not a neat century. It was actually a series of separate campaigns and battles that spanned from 1337 all the way to 1453.
2 The Blitz
The Blitz isn’t a blitzkrieg at all. It was a sustained strategic bombing campaign, whereas a blitzkrieg refers to a rapid, all‑mechanized assault that punches a hole in an enemy’s front before turning to the flanks.
3 Golf Woods
In modern golf, the so‑called “woods” are typically forged from metal, not timber. Historically, the heads of these clubs were made primarily of wood, which is why the name stuck.
4 Egg Cream
Believe it or not, an egg cream contains neither egg nor cream. It’s actually a fizzy blend of chocolate‑flavored syrup, seltzer water, and a splash of milk—deliciously deceptive.
5 Head Cheese
Don’t be fooled by the dairy‑sounding moniker; head cheese is a savory meat product, usually made from the head of a pig or calf, set in aspic.
6 Anti‑Semitism
Common usage ties anti‑Semitism to hostility toward Jews, but “Semites” technically includes all peoples speaking Semitic languages, such as Arabs. The more precise term for prejudice against Jews would be anti‑Jewish.
7 Inchworm
An inchworm isn’t necessarily an inch long, nor is it a true worm. It’s a caterpillar that moves by looping its body, giving the illusion of measuring an inch.
8 Tear Gas
Contrary to its name, tear gas isn’t a gas at all. It’s a solid crystalline compound that, when dispersed, creates a cloud of irritating particles.
9 East River
The East River isn’t a river in the traditional sense; it’s actually a tidal strait that separates Manhattan from Brooklyn and Queens, swayed by ocean tides.
10 Titmouse
Despite the “mouse” in its name, the titmouse is a small songbird, not a rodent. Its lively chirps and feathered plumage make it a favorite among birdwatchers.
11 Jerusalem Artichoke
Neither linked to Jerusalem nor a true artichoke, the Jerusalem artichoke gets its name from the Italian “girasole,” meaning sunflower. Its tuber tastes more like the leaves of a globe artichoke than anything Middle‑Eastern.
12 Arabic Numerals
What we call Arabic numerals actually originated on the Indian subcontinent. They later traveled westward through the Arab world, which is how they earned their modern name.
13 Panama Hats
Panama hats are woven in Ecuador, not Panama. They earned their iconic label because they became popular among workers building the Panama Canal, linking the hat to the country.
14 French Fries
French fries aren’t French in origin; evidence points to Belgium as their birthplace. They’re called “French” because the thin, julienned cut resembles the French culinary term for that style.
15 Mongolian Barbecue
Mongolian barbecue has no roots in Mongolia and isn’t a traditional barbecue. It was invented in Taiwan, drawing heavily on Japanese teppanyaki techniques.
16 White Chocolate
Even though it contains cocoa butter, white chocolate isn’t legally recognized as chocolate by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and many other regulatory bodies.
17 Tidal Wave
The phrase “tidal wave” is often used to describe a tsunami, yet tsunamis are generated by seismic activity, not by the rise and fall of tides.
18 Sugar Soap
Despite its sweet‑sounding label, sugar soap contains neither sugar nor soap. It’s a cleaning agent formulated with surfactants that cut through grease without any sugary ingredients.
19 Egg Roll
An egg roll is a popular appetizer that typically wraps a mix of finely chopped vegetables, sometimes with meat, in a thin pastry—no eggs required.
20 Chinese Checkers
Chinese checkers didn’t originate in China at all. The game was patented in Germany in 1893 under the name “Stern‑Halma,” a variation of the American game Halma.
Did any of these surprise you? Share your thoughts below and let us know which misnomer cracked you up the most!