take/win/collect the wooden spoon

Have you ever heard this expression before? It is an unusual expression, isn't it? I was looking for a wooden-something word in my dictionary till I came to this term. Taking/wining/collecting the wooden spoon. The expression means coming last in a competition.

There are not enough pages on the web talking about this phrase and its origin. Perhaps, it is an old phrase. My attempt to find a page on its possible origins was not vain, though. Here is the origin.

I hope none of us win the wooden spoon in our personal and academic life.

etymologic

etymologic
the toughest word game on the web

ETYMOLOGIC is a web site that I have learned about recently. There, ten questions on word origin will be given to you randomly. You have to choose the right answer. It is called the toughest language game since it is totally difficult and mind-boggling to find the right answer as all the choices may seem plausible.

Grading the final examination

Department of Statistics: All grades are plotted along the normal bell curve.

Department of Psychology: Students are asked to blot ink in their exam books, close them and turn them in. The professor opens the books and assigns the first grade that comes to mind.

Department of History: All students get the same grade they got last year.

Department of Religion: Grade is determined by God.

Department of Philosophy: What is a grade?

Law School: Students are asked to defend their position of why they should receive an A.

Department of Logic: If and only if the student is present for the final and the student has accumulated a passing grade then the student will receive an A, else the student will not receive an A.

Department of Computer Science: Random number generator determines grade.

Department of Physical Education: Everybody gets an A.