For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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OP
shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
People who became nouns: a great article/gallery about historical people behind the coining of new words.
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Re: For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,877
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,877 |
Neat stuff. Thanks for posting.... I had no idea that the origin of some of those words were from names!
-David
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Re: For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,928
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,928 |
There's some common phrases which have some intersting origins...such as "dead ringer". Years ago they used to tie a string to the "deceased" in their coffin when they buried them which was attached to a bell above ground, just in case they were still alive(apparently burying the living by mistake was a problem in those days).
Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
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Re: For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,357
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,357 |
Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot!
The only reasonable argument for owning a gun is to protect yourself from the police.
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Re: For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
There's some common phrases which have some intersting origins...such as "dead ringer". Years ago they used to tie a string to the "deceased" in their coffin when they buried them which was attached to a bell above ground, just in case they were still alive(apparently burying the living by mistake was a problem in those days). I believe this was from the plague years, where people were in a coma from the fever and thought to be dead.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
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Re: For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015 |
Sure seems like it would have been a lot easier if they just stored them for a few days, then buried the stinky ones.
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Re: For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
But then how would have stories of zombies and other supernatural beings.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
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Re: For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015 |
"Bow down before the mighty death sniffers. Bow down."
This might have given the Harry Potter stories a different twist.
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Re: For the language / etymology fans
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,056
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,056 |
But then how would have stories of zombies and other supernatural beings. Apropos - check out this link. The basic theory is that witch doctors have poisoned people, turning them into vegetables that can be used for slave labor. The story pops up after one of these "nzambes" returned to his village after being "dead" for a decade or so. http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/hold-for-buck-edited-how-to-make-a-zombie-haiti-style/19638134?icid=main|main|dl5|sec1_lnk3|172463
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