Date: Mon May 22 00:19:27 EDT 1995
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bibliopole
bib.li.o.pole or bib.li.op.o.list n [L bibliopola bookseller, fr. Gk
bibliopoles, fr. bibli- + polein to sell] (1775): a dealer esp. in rare or
curious books
Am I right in thinking 'curious' books was a euphemism for porn?
Bingley
Dear Bingley: You'd have to ask Wordsmith. I have seen
"amazing" used to hint that a book was pornographic.
I was talking generally rather than specifically about that particular passage.
Bingley
Dear Bingley: You made me coin a word: "pornopole" = a seller of "carnal knowledge". I was surprised that I could not find it in any dictionary.
I am surprised that the such a potentially useful root
as " -pole" is used so infrequently.
such a potentially useful root as " -pole" is used so infrequently.
More often seen in its incarnation as -poly, as in monopoly.
pornopoly
do not pass go, do not collect $200...
Dear Faldage: I have seen monopoly, and duopoly. I challenge you to find others.
OneLook had a sparse few, I especially liked "roly-poly"...
I think oligopoly is the only one that onelook has to offer where the -poly is from the root in question.
Bill's coinage inspired me. I took two Greek words for 'brothel-keeper', pornoboskos 'herder of whores' and pornotrophos 'rearer of whores' and came up with pornoboscan and pornotrophic as adjectives meaning pimpish.
Oligopoly, for oneWouldn't that be: oligopoly, for several?
Dear jheem: your "pornoboskos" made me wonder about the etymology of "boss", the guy who gives you orders. I didn't find a good site. Here's an old one:
To ornament with bosses; to stud.
Origin: OE. Bocen, fr. OF. Bocier. See the preceding word.
Origin: OE. Boce, bose, boche, OF. Boce, boche, bosse, F. Bosse, of G. Origin; cf. OHG. Bozo tuft, bunch, OHG. Bozan, MHG. Bozen, to beat. See Beat, and cf. Botch a swelling.
1. Any protuberant part; a round, swelling part or body; a knoblike process; as, a boss of wood.
2. A protuberant ornament on any work, either of different material from that of the work or of the same, as upon a buckler or bridle; a stud; a knob; the central projection of a shield. See Umbilicus.
3. A projecting ornament placed at the intersection of the ribs of ceilings, whether vaulted or flat, and in other situations.
4. [Cf. D. Bus box, Dan. Bosse] A wooden vessel for the mortar used in tiling or masonry, hung by a hook from the laths, or from the rounds of a ladder.
5. <mechanics> The enlarged part of a shaft, on which a wheel is keyed, or at the end, where it is coupled to another. A swage or die used for shaping metals.
6. A head or reservoir of water.
Source: Websters Dictionary
the etymology of "boss", the guy who gives you ordersI'd allus heard it was from the Afrikaans,
baas. AHD4 says it's Dutch, not Afrikaans.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/86/B0408600.html
I seem to remember that boss in the sense of 'the guy with the pointy hair' is supposed to be from a Dutch word. I always liked the sound, but not the meaning, of Boss Tweed. Another boscus, unrelated, is Sanctoboscus 'holywood'. I wonder if Hollywood is from the holly tree?
It's a fine line between Dutch, Flemish, and Afrikaans.
Oligopoly, for one
Wouldn't that be: oligopoly, for several?
I knew there was a reason I came back.
And is "bos-" meaning protuberant part also seen in "proboscis" ? Or is that redundant? or parallel evolution?
proboscis
I'm sure someone knows...
And is "bos-" meaning protuberant part also seen in "proboscis" ? Or is that redundant? or parallel evolution?
You mean, of course, bosc. From the Greek boskein 'to feed'. Related to bous (Latin bos, English cow, Sanskrit go), but whence the kappa?
