"Vegetarian" is an old Iroquois word meaning "poor shot."

Thank you, Father, from a vegetarian with a sense of humour. And is there, perhaps, a similarly fascinating etymology for a teetotaller?

Teetotaller = Someone who no bars hold.

(I can't resist.)

A teetotaler I can handle, bar none, as long as he's
riding a bicycle! (Ow ow ow!)

A teetotaler I can handle, bar none, as long as he's
riding a bicycle!

Of course, if he drank like a fish, he would need a bicycle as much as a woman needs a man, I suppose?

>if he drank like a fish, he would need a bicycle as much as a woman needs a man, I suppose?

Professor Krankl writes from his comfortable cell:

"Dass ist zer good, but can be rendered mitt greater klarity in zer followig equations - upon vich I haf been vorking for much of my life".

man + bar = woman [Tender is the night]
man + woman = bard [Avon calling]
man - bar = effishiency [where'sh my bi'scal?]
man + bar + bike = barf-ish [ooh, creme de menthe]
man + Z(bars) = bicycle [let Z = ease]
man + bicycle = barred x (Woman - bar) [sole mio]

or should that be "sole - miaow!"

Excellent, mave, boyo - and I thought the Welsh had no sense of humour !

I thought the Welsh had no sense of humour !

Dieu,dieu! And who was it gave you the delightful backslang of Llanreggub Hill and the poetic spendours of all who dwell in its shadow? Now there's poetry for you, see?

Ah, yes! To this day, when the landlord asks me what I will have, I invariably sigh, in chorus with Nogood Boyo, "Too Much"

And nothing can ever be plain black, now - it is always some variation on Slow, black Sloe-black, Bible-black etc.

Slow, black Sloe-black, Bible-black

Please see the thread RS Thomas if poetry interests.

Truly a great loss of a great poet, patriot and priest.