‘Podiuming’

This is either winning a medal (so stepping on to the podium) at the Olympics, or around the arena that seated the emperor and other VIPs (from the Greek , literally “little foot”, meaning “base” or “pedestal”). Adopted into English in the 18th century, a podium was the projecting base of a wall or column, and latterly a raised platform or lectern. It was applied to the familiar three-tiered sporting structure only in 1948. , such as those who also claim every four years that “to medal” is not a verb. But do you know what else wasn’t a verb until someone decided to use it that way? “Rain”. And also “drink”.