#946 The funny bone

There's nothing funny about hitting your funny bone. Whoever named it the funny bone had a pretty sick sense of humor. How did it get such a midleading name? To find out, we turn to the source that has helped write our school papers since 3rd grade. Wikipedia tells us: 

This name is thought to be a pun, based on the sound resemblance between the name of the bone of the upper arm, the "humerus" and the word "humourous." Alternatively, according to the OED it may refer to "the peculiar sensation experienced when it is struck."

The funny bone isn't as funny
as this girl's face is.

So, there you have it. It's a pun. Neat. You know what else it is? Painful. When you hit your funny bone, I bet you're not immediately commenting on the irony or the pun. A hit to the funny bone is more likely to be followed by some, uh, colorful words. Wikipedia also tells us that the funny bone isn't a bone at all, it's a nerve! More reasons to be angry when the pain strikes. Thankfully, the pain (accompanied by that weird tingly feeling) is short lived and life moves on. 

It's just slightly annoying.