Jesse's Word of the Day: From Abacinate to Yonic - Tapa blanda

My four year-old daughter has discovered the meaning of piggyback.  Can you explain its origins?

When is it appropriate to use ie. and eg.?

If I'm "in like Flynn" am I being compared to the actor?

Everyone in my office has started saying "yada-yada-yada."  I know this pre-dates Seinfeld.  Where does it come from?

In Jesse's Word of the Day, language expert Jesse Sheidlower offers witty and informative answers to the most interesting real-life language questions posed by visitors to the popular Web site he originated with Random House. His tradition is now being continued at The Mavens' Word of the Day (www.mavensword.com).
What are the origins of phrases like bated breath and skin of the teeth?  What's the proper way to use confusable words like lie and lay? Are there answers to popular puzzlers about the longest word in the English language or the number of words ending in -gry?  Jesse's responses to these are both authoritative and fun to read for language mavens of all levels.  A fun and practical resource, Jesse's Word of the Day answers the language questions you've always pondered, and some you haven't even thought to ask!

Jesse Sheidlower was a Senior Editor in the Random House Reference Department, where he was chiefly responsible for slang and new words. His writing about and comments on language have appeared in Esquire, The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, and other publications. He is also the editor of The F-Word.

Educated in English linguistics at the University of Chicago, from which he was graduated with special honors, and Trinity College, Cambridge University, Mr. Sheidlower lives in Manhattan with his wife, his dog, and his two very sharp-clawed cats