13 December 1996

The Truth About Yellyfish

Jellyfish are the result of international semantic misunderstanding. In 1702, Lars Weløe, the eminent Norwegian biologist, gave an address to the British Academy of the Natural Sciences in which he described the "yellyfish." Weløe said yellyfish and he meant yellyfish, but the Academy reporter misunderstood, misinterpreting Weløe's Nordic accent.

And that's where jellyfish came from. Having been stung by one while swimming off Hawaii, I agree with Weløe: they're yellyfish.