68. Punctilio

Better brush up on your manners, because this week Kyle and Emily are talking about the meaning and origin of the word punctilio.

The pair discuss Latin origins, petty details, and all things strict and proper as they explore this word’s history. Digging into its usage over time, they unearth stories about 16th century satire, the Italian book of etiquette “Il Gataleo,” and that book’s surprising connection to King Arthur.

They also talk about the personal code of conduct to which US president George Washington held himself--and use his rules as a jumping-off point to discuss other words related to punctilio.