Whenever I watch the MLB, I could often see the sportscasters shout out "homer" whenever the batter hits a home run. Does the word "homer" originate from "Homer Simpson"?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Good question! It actually doesn't. "Homer" simply means homerun and has been in use long before the show "The Simpsons" existed. Homer Simpson's name is also not inspired by baseball, although he is well-known for his love of the sport. Homer's name was inspired by show creator Matt Groening's father, who was named Homer after the famous Ancient Greek poet and writer Homer.