While listening to NPR yesterday I heard the reporter refer to an active centenarian as "spry." This term seems to be commonly used to refer to active older people, yet we (in the USA, at least) refer to active young people as simply "active." Why? And why, for that matter do we call older people "Senior Citizens?" They may be citizens of Guatemala or Greece, for all the speaker knows, so the term seems silly to me. How is it in the rest of the world?

Ahh, these are the questions I think about when I can't get to sleep. My question the other night was why do we (Americans) use food terms for terms of endearment? But, back to your thought. That is true, although I like the word spry. I'm going to have to lie awake tonight and think about this. Thanks.

foggy gardens

Excellent questions Geoff! I work with Senior's all day. I have a sweet 87 year old lady who comes into Meals on Wheels and delivers to 60 year olds! Around here, anyone over 55 gets their Senior Citizens discount at the local stores on Wednesday!

I like the word spry. I'm going to have to lie awake tonight and think about this. Thanks.

You're most welcome! Just give me a call next time you run out of No-Doze!

spry

From the Britspeak angle (Angle angle? ) I don't hear "spry" used all that much, but I believe it does mainly relate to vigorous oldsters. You'd talk about a "spry old chap", and never about a "spry young chap". A quick glance at the dictionary tells me the etymology is uncertain, so you've found an interesting word here, Geoff.

"Senior Citizens?"

We definitely have Senior Citizens, the term often being used alongside OAPs (Old Age Pensioners). e.g. entry to a high-adrenaline Theme Park would be 30 quid for most people, but 15 quid for OAPs and Senior Citizens (for the ride of their life ).
I suppose Senior Citizen implies someone of an age where they could have retired and could be in receipt of a pension, but may actually still be working, or perhaps have come into an inheritance, so are unable or don't need to draw a pension.
Also interesting.

[think bubbles in a goldfish bowl...]

While listening to NPR yesterday I heard the reporter refer to an active centenarian as "spry."....

Trust NPR to use words like spry. (I wonder how many teenagers would know it.) Anyway, I did enjoy the series they did, some months back, on those spry centenarians. I will not forget the one who still does skinny-dipping on moonlit nights at the lake in the back of her country house.

My girlfriend was telling me today about her 73 year old mother. She is in a home for Alzheimers patients. Well, it appears that when her brother went to visit mom the other day, a staff member pulled him aside and said they caught mom in her room with a male patient and they were....well...you get the picture. Talk about a spry lady!

Laughing here...the spell check wants to turn spry into spuds!