Many of us have oil on our minds these days. Skyrocketing prices for gasoline and heating oil/kerosene have us all watching our pennies a little closer this winter. But do you know the story behind the word "derrick," the tall structure that supports the drilling equipment over an oil well?

In 17th century London there was a hangman who was very good at building the scaffold needed to execute his profession. As a matter of fact, he was so good at it he actually became very well known, and was even written into several plays of the time. And what was the name of this very adept hangman? Well, Derrick, of course!

Through the years, Derrick the Hangman's name became associated with cranes and other structures that resembled the hangman's scaffold, and eventually spread to the oil fields as well.

Try not to get too hung up on this word!