Mysteries of vernacular: Quarantine - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel
68,413 Views
1,915 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Stemming from the days of bubonic plague in Medieval Europe, quarantines were originally used to prevent potentially plague-infested ships from disembarking at a port city. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain how the length of the wait, often 40 days, came to be associated with the word we use today.
Quaranta means forty in Italian. Why is this significant?
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Director Jessica Oreck
- Producer Rachael Teel
