Here's a breakdown:
* Etymology: The word "eponym" comes from the Greek words "epi" (upon) and "onoma" (name).
* Examples:
* Achilles' heel: This refers to a vulnerable point, named after the Greek hero Achilles who was vulnerable in his heel.
* Fahrenheit: The temperature scale is named after German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit.
* The sandwich: The food is named after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who was said to have eaten meat between two slices of bread to avoid having to leave his card games.
* Boycott: This verb means to refuse to deal with someone or something, named after Captain Charles Boycott who was ostracized by his Irish tenants.
Key characteristics of eponyms:
* The name typically comes from a person, place, or thing that is somehow related to the thing being named. For example, the "sandwich" is named after someone who popularized the food.
* The name is usually a proper noun. For example, "Fahrenheit" is a specific name, not a generic term.
* Eponyms can be used in a variety of contexts. They can refer to things, concepts, diseases, geographical locations, and much more.
In summary, an eponym is a name that has been given to something based on a person, place, or thing connected to it.