Episode 292: Nest Egg

This week Shauna and Dan explore the varieties of Nest Eggs. Bonus: Common-sense furniture, Satan sitting on a sin's spawn, and Shauna's hot ninja take

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Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
Episode 292: Nest Egg
Record Date: September 2, 2025
Air Date: September 10, 2025

Intro

Shauna:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. 

I’m Shauna Harrison

Dan:
And I’m Dan Pugh

Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today.

Opening Hook
Have you ever thought about how you would handle a financial emergency? My process has evolved over the years as I’ve gotten older and more secure in my profession. I started with just praying to every deity that an emergency wouldn’t happen. Then I started gathering coins from the couches and anywhere else I can find. Then I got real good at prioritizing which bill to pay and which service to let get shut off… mostly decided by a combination of what would do the least amount of damage and cost the least to get turned back on. But eventually, with a few dollars per paycheck, I got my head above water - so to speak - and began building a nest egg. 

Meaning
According to the Oxford English Dictionary a nest egg is:

Quote
A sum of money laid or set by as a reserve.
End Quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/nest-egg_n?tab=meaning_and_use#34632252 

To identify how we got to nest egg in this way, it’s helpful to understand how the term has changed over the years. 

A Nest Egg has been used to refer to a literal egg in a literal nest since at least the early 1300s… so basically since Middle English. But interestingly, it has taken on a figurative usage since the late 1500s. Here is a definition from the Oxford English Dictionary:

Quote
An egg, natural or artificial, left in a nest to induce a hen, etc., to continue to lay after other eggs have been removed.
End Quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/nest-egg_n?tab=meaning_and_use#34632252 

Which I find to be an interesting take on it. You place an egg in the nest and the hen will keep laying more eggs. It could even be an artificial egg. By the 1600s this style of nest-egg broadened out to be anything serving that function, as the OED notes here: 

Quote
Something displayed, or serving, as an inducement or decoy.
End Quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/nest-egg_n?tab=meaning_and_use#34632252 

1662
Here is an example of this figurative definition from the work The Righteousness Evangelicall by Jeremiah Taylor, the Bishop of Down and Connor. This is a selection of sermons delivered at Christ-Church in Dublin. The collection was published in 1663, but our passage comes from sermon delivered August 10, 1662:

Quote
If you would be in the state of the Liberty of the Sons of God, that is, that you may not be servants of sin in any instance; be sure in the mortifications of sin, willingly or carelessly to leave no remains of it; no nest-egg; no principles of it, no affections to it
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Righteousness_Evangelicall_Describ_d/zamLVZs652EC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nest+egg&pg=PA127&printsec=frontcover

Here the Bishop is imploring the reader to remove sin from their lives and do not leave it motivation to grow, as leaving a nest-egg under the hen encourages her to continue to lay eggs. So to remove the nest-egg would be to remove that motivation - or in this case - that temptation. Nest-egg was a common trope of the mid 1600 Christian writings. Which makes sense as many people would have understood the concept of leaving a nest-egg in with the hen, and so to the metaphor of removing the nest-egg from Satan’s grasp. I saw one 1660 work that referred to ‘hypocrites leaving a nest-egg for Satan to sit on’, which conjured some really silly images in my head.
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Christ_All_and_in_All_Or_Severall_Signif/UGaWV-RobS4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=nest+egg&pg=PA115&printsec=frontcover

Another work of the same timeframe, 1660’s A Way to Get Wealth by Gervase Markham, also talks about gathering the eggs and leaving the nest-egg in place to encourage more egg-laying. This, as the title would suggest, builds wealth. 
https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_a-way-to-get-wealth-_markham-gervase_1660_0/mode/2up?q=%22nest+egg%22

And it is likely from this concept of a nest egg for the hen encouraging the wealth of eggs that led to anything being a stand-in for the nest egg, proverbially speaking, so long as it encouraged growth. And that is one of the ways we use the phrase today, something that is set aside as a reserve. The part about encouraging growth is still often applied when we mention a nest egg, but sometimes that part gets dropped and simply having some money or other wealth put aside could be referred to as a nest egg, even if it is not growing.

1686
The first time I could find reference to nest-egg being used in this reserve capacity is in a letter from John Locke to Edward Clarke dated May 4, 1686. This letter was published in 1927 with a collection of letters between the two by Benjamin Rand, but again it was originally written in 1686.

Quote
He hopes, as I perceive, that this shall not be the last business he shall have with you, and therefore expects not to have the just balance returned, but an entire sum, something near it may serve the turn. The rest, I perceive, he is not troubled should remain as a nest egg till a farther occasion.
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/correspondenceof0000benj_c7q6/page/164/mode/2up?q=nest+eg 

The term was not explained in the letter, meaning the author, John Locke, was certain that Edward Clarke would understand the meaning. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean the masses would understand it, but the prevalence in religious writings of the day meant learned people would have understood the reference. And the practice of nest-eggs among the worker class picking chicken eggs would have also had some understanding of the basis for the figurative usage. 

1699
Here’s a slang dictionary of the time that shows similar usage. This lends more credibility that the figurative usage would have been understood by the masses. This from the New Dictionary Canting Crew by B.E. This is from the entry for Egge.

Quote
To leave a Nest-egg, to have alwaies a Reserve to come again.
End Quote
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/75897/pg75897-images.html

This shows us the phrase was being used, at least in the slang and cant world, in much the same way it is used today. 

1720
Here’s an example out of The Caledonian Mercury, Scotland, dated July 14, 1720

Quote
In the mean time they have already gotten by their Subscription, a good part of the Cash in the Kingdom in their Hand; and now, many of them are for buying up all the Lands that can be met with (leaving at same time a good Nest Egg in the Stock).
End Quote
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000045/17200714/007/0005?browse=true

This is exactly as we see the phrase today, with wealth - tied up in land - serving as a reserve that will grow over time. 

1771
Next is a dictionary definition from 1771 in A New General English Dictionary, begun by Thomas Dyche and completed by William Pardon. And the entry for nest egg notes it is a slang term, though it is in a proper dictionary now, and says:

Quote
A reserve, or store of money, etc, laid up against some extraordinary time or accident
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_new_general_English_dictionary_to_whic/augIAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22nest+egg%22&pg=PA119-IA250&printsec=frontcover 

This usage in a proper dictionary really highlights that all pretense of it being a vulgar - or not proper - term has been dropped. Everyone who speaks English probably understands the term “nest egg” at this point.

1791
This next example comes from a 1791 letter from William Cowper to an unknown recipient, though it is likely to be a Mr. Hill. 

Quote
My dear Friend, You heap kindness on kindness, and all on the head of a pauper, who will never be able to make you any other return than the lean one of acknowledgments. I shall be glad to keep the nest-egg, if it can be kept, but I apprehend rather that the approaching summer will go near to addle it.
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/gentlemansmagaz14unkngoog/mode/2up?q=%22nest+egg%22

1825
This next one is from the St. James’s Chronicle out of London, England dated May 31, 1825. It is from a speech in the House of Commons:

Quote
To give the house an idea of the enormous expenses to to which it was believed that proceedings in that Court necessarily gave rise, he stated that a late respected member of that house, Mr. Ricardo, had left by his will the sum of 50,000 as a nest-egg to provide funds for the defrayal of any expenses to which his heirs might be put in the Court of Chancery, in defence of their title to the estates…
End Quote
https://newspaperarchive.com/london-st-james-chronicle-and-general-evening-post-may-31-1825-p-2/ 

1898
The Nest Egg by W.W. Jacobs is a short story published in 1898. Here is the synopsis by Project Gutenburg:

Quote
…This humorous tale focuses on themes such as deceit, relationships, and the consequences of one's actions, particularly in the realm of romance and financial trust. The story revolves around Charlie Tagg, a young sailor who is deeply in love with his fiancée, Emma Cook, and has been saving money to start their future together. However, upon returning home, he finds himself entangled in a web of deceit fueled by the temptation of another woman in Sydney. Desperate to procure money from Emma to pursue a new opportunity, he concocts a series of excuses and manipulations. The narrative unfolds as old Mr. Cook proposes they invest in a chandlery, which Charlie tries to avoid at all costs while maintaining appearances. Ultimately, his scheme backfires when old debts surface and relationships are tested, leading to a surprising resolution where Emma takes a stand, asserting her independence and moving on from Charlie's manipulative behavior. The story cleverly highlights the folly of artfulness and the importance of honesty in relationships.
End Quote
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11183

1922
This next one is an advertisement for a furniture company in the Evening World out of New York, USA dated May 15, 1922. Here is the ad:

Quote
It is common sense to keep a “nest egg” for emergencies. It is also common sense to live happily in an attractive home. Many are not living as comfortably as they would like, whether or not they have a nest egg. But thousands of families, who have furnished their homes with dependable furniture, on Cowperthwait and Sons’ liberal credit terms, now live very comfortably and happily. They also have a good sized nest egg for emergencies. Keep your nest egg and use your credit to furnish your home attractively as you want it. Small payments each week will do it. That’s common sense!
End Quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030193/1922-05-15/ed-1/?sp=11&q=%22nest+egg%22&r=0.047,0.377,0.806,0.307,0

With that, it’s time to move to our more modern uses but first we need to say thank you to our sponsors. 

A Quick Thank You
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Modern Uses

1985 Movie
We’re going to start our modern uses in 1985 with the film Lost in America starring Albert Brooks and Julia Hagerty. There is a famous scene in the film where Brooks’ character David is lecturing his wife Linda about a nest egg after his wife loses all their money gambling. We’ll link to the scene on youtube, but here is part of it:

Quote
David: The egg is a protector, like a god, and we sit under the nest egg, and we are protected by it. Without it? No protection! Want me to go on? It pours rain. Hey, the rain drops on the egg and falls off the side. Without the egg? Wet! It's over. But you didn't understand it and that's why we're where we are"
Linda: I understood the nest egg
David: Oh, please. Do me a favor. Don't use the word. You may not use that word. It's off limits to you! Only those in this house who understand nest egg may use it! And don't use any part of it, either. Don't use 'nest.' Don't use 'egg.' You're out in the forest you can point: 'The bird lives in a round stick.' And, and, and you have things over easy with toast!
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy96hwuelvs

Now this film is billed as a comedy, though Matt Zoller Seitz writing for Rolling Stone Magazine in 2018, called it The Great American Economic Horror Movie.
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/stream-this-movie-lost-in-america-744235/

David does a good job of describing the benefits of a nest egg, even though he stretches the metaphor quite a bit. But the point is, if you have a financial nest egg, you can weather many storms. And even today, this scene pops up in every search I do for Nest Egg, so it felt necessary to include it here. 

2005 Song
Nest Egg is a song by The Phoenix Foundation off the 2005 album Pegasus. Here are the opening lyrics:

Quote
Our nest egg may be rotten
And all our dreams forgotten
But I am not down-trodden
I’m a-floatin’

And you might say I’m a-driftin’
Just a sifter out siftin’
But the point is listenin’
On the way
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T2H77tVyTw 


2010 Book
I’m going to use one financial book as a stand-in for the hundreds of books that use Nest Egg in the title. This one is Pensionize Your Nest Egg: How to Use Product Allocation to Create a Guaranteed Income for Life By Moshe A. Milevsky, Alexandra C. Macqueen is a 2010 self-help book focused on financial health. Here is the synopsis from the publisher.

Quote
PensionizeTM Verb. 1. To convert money into income you can't outlive. 2. To create your own personal pension, a monthly income that lasts for the rest of your natural life.

With the subpar performance of the markets, record-high personal debt levels, and shockingly low savings rates, it's clear that many Canadians expecting to retire in the next decade simply don't have a sufficient nest egg to ensure a worry-free retirement. Making matters worse, only about one-third of Canadians currently belong to a formal, or registered, pension plan; and even a large number of that "lucky third" will not retire with a guaranteed pension income.

If you no longer have the time to wait and hope for your traditional investments to pay off, the answer is to "pensionize your nest egg" using the new technique of product allocation set out in this book. 
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pensionize_Your_Nest_Egg/Xhm4i_6c9dIC?hl=en&gbpv=0

I’m not really a fan of self-help books as they tend to be heavy on concepts and light on actionable steps. But maybe this one is different. I doubt I’ll be reading it. But it does capture one common way Nest Egg is used in the English speaking world, with wealth set aside as a reserve that keeps growing. Just like we’ve used it for 400 years. And frankly, the predominant way we see it used in the book space over the last 40 years. But now I’ll point to two exceptions to that trend.

2012 Book
This next one we actually have mentioned before, in our episode about All Your Eggs in One Basket. This book is the one that made me think about Nest Egg as an episode because it combines the two phrases together.  All in One Basket: Nest Eggs by Deborah Devonshire is a 2012 book that combines the best of reflections from two of her earlier books, Home to Roost and Counting my Chickens. It is described by the publisher as:

Quote
Entertaining, instructive, thought-provoking and hilarious
End Quote
https://www.hachette.com.au/deborah-devonshire/all-in-one-basket-nest-eggs-by 

The nest egg here is less about wealth and instead about something more valuable. These nest eggs are the author's tidbits of wisdom from her own life and observations that the reader can ‘hold in reserve’ for when that insight would be helpful. 

2019 Book
Another book that takes a different take than just monetary wealth is Nest Egg by Josi Avari. This is a 2019 cozy mystery book and the first in the Aloha Chicken Mysteries. Here’s the synopsis from the publisher:

Quote
Saffron Skye has inherited a little piece of Hawaiian paradise. Only it's filled with the leftovers of her late uncle's life and overrun with his enormous flock of chickens. When her new friend, the oldest man in town, dies, no one else finds it suspicious. But as the town's newest poultry keeper Saffron recognizes fowl play when she sees it. Saffron is a tetrachromat and can see colors nobody else can see. If only she could do the same with killers. To find the culprit--and the victim's hidden fortune--Saffron will have to look in some surprising places. Even her new flock will lend a wing. With scrumptious island food galore and two handsome men vying for her attention, Saffron has to focus, crack a few eggs . . . and crack the case.
End Quote
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/josi-avari/nest-egg.htm 

This sounds like a cute story. I might have to check it out. Also, the main character is a tetrachromat. And if you didn’t know what tetrachromacy was, you are not alone. Tetra is the greek word for the numeral 4, and chromatic comes from both Latin and Greek and refers to color. In this case, tetrachromacy refers to a person with 4 types of cones instead of the usual 3 in their eyes, allowing them to not just see the millions of colors some people can see, but instead see billions of colors. It may be quite rare and apparently only happens in bio-sex females. As someone with a color vision deficiency, the whole idea of that many colors is wild to me, which led me down a bunny trail, so we are going to look more into it in our behind the scenes video which airs every Friday on our Patreon. 

That’s patreon.com/bunnytrailspod 

2020 Video Game Ending
Little Nest Egg is one of the 16 possible endings for the 2020 video game 
Completing the Mission which is the sixth and final game in the the Henry Stickmin series. It is available on Steam.
https://henrystickmin.fandom.com/wiki/Little_Nest_Egg 

2021 Video Game Achievement
Nest Egg is an achievement you can earn in the 2021 video game Psychonauts 2. You can earn this achievement by completely filling your Astral Wallet, thus creating a nice little nest egg for your gameplay. Psychonauts 2 is available on a variety of consoles and other platforms.
https://www.trueachievements.com/a337021/nest-egg-achievement 

2025 Short Film
Nest Egg is a short film released in 2025 and directed by Merve Kılıçer

Here is the synopsis:
Quote
Driven to gain control over her body and reproductive rights, an artist documents her procedure of human oocyte cryopreservation (freezing eggs). Her story tracks the medical and emotional impacts while addressing the position of the artist in society in relation to traditional family structures. Borrowing from the staging of hidden mother photography in the Victorian era, the artist invites the viewer to consider the expectations of holding a child ‘stable’ while fulfilling societal expectations in a precarious world.
End Quote
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1466624-nest-egg


Wrap Up
As someone who likes to be prepared for whatever may come, I love the idea of a nest-egg. I know it is difficult to build a reserve of wealth for the future when it feels like so many forces are trying to take all the wealth away from us and hoard it for themselves. And that sucks. So I recommend something small, like $5 a paycheck put in a jar to start building that nest egg. And don’t feel distraught when everytime you have $30 in there you have to spend it on something that broke or a bill that was more than you expected. That’s what it is for. And slowly, over time, you will be able to put a few more dollars away per paycheck. And eventually you might even have a nest egg that can help you through even dire financial situations. But don’t give up. And put a little away when you can. And it’s okay if sometimes you can’t. 

Dan:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included, 
reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod or comment on our website bunnytrailspod.com

Shauna:
It’s poll time!

Recently we asked our patrons, Ninja movie or Pirate Movie?

The results were unanimous. Pirate movies win the day. 

Although, JGP, as usual, has a wonderful take on it:

Quote
Both are good but hear me out, what about Ninja Pirates?
End quote

Dan:
Alas, both were not an option. 

I think the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was great. Erroyl Flynn is was a great swashbuckler in Captain Blood and other movies. I have enjoyed some ninja movies and of course I love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But I'm not a huge fan of the martial arts style movies. 

Shauna:
Jan agrees with you:

Quote
Pirates over ninjas. Pirates have rum and gold. Ninjas, what do they have?
End Quote

Whatever Shauna says

As a reminder, our silly polls mean absolutely nothing and are not scientifically valid. And patrons of all levels, including our free tiers, can take part. Head over to patreon.com/bunnytrailspod to take this week’s poll!

Outro 

Shauna:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember, 

Together:
Words belong to their users.