We couldn't tell you why this is so, but today is International Ask A Question Day. Our question is this: why is it that oodles of words with real pizzazz have histories labeled origin unknown? (来源：英语杂志 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

For instance, consider the number of nonsense words out there, ranging from balderdash to hooey to codswallop: not one of these synonyms has an agreed-upon, substantiated history.

Do you think the missing stories are just a fluke or that a certain branch of word historians should be labeled bozos? Before you look askance at lexicographers unable to offer confirmed explanations about how balderdash, hooey, and codswallop (not to mention oodles, pizzazz, askance, fluke, and yes, bozo) entered the lexicon, we'll remind you of two things: first, that it is impressive how many words do have substantiated and clearly understood histories; and second, that it is quite challenging to trace back the origins of words used in speech long before they are recorded in print.