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#122274 - 02/16/04 10:22 AM Re: bibliopole
Faldage Online sleepy
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13653
I think oligopoly is the only one that onelook has to offer where the -poly is from the root in question.


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#122275 - 02/16/04 10:34 AM Re: pimply
jheem Offline
veteran

Registered: 01/06/04
Posts: 1474
Loc: California
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.


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#122276 - 02/22/04 06:53 PM I want a recount
Sparteye Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 01/05/01
Posts: 1773
Oligopoly, for one

Wouldn't that be: oligopoly, for several?



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#122277 - 02/23/04 09:45 AM Re: I want a recount
Fiberbabe Offline
old hand

Registered: 01/12/01
Posts: 771
Loc: Portland, Oregon



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#122278 - 02/23/04 10:39 AM Re: I want a recount
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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



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#122279 - 02/23/04 11:01 AM Re: I want a recount
Faldage Online sleepy
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13653
the etymology of "boss", the guy who gives you orders

I'd allus heard it was from the Afrikaans, baas. AHD4 says it's Dutch, not Afrikaans.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/86/B0408600.html


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#122280 - 02/23/04 11:44 AM Re: I want a recount
jheem Offline
veteran

Registered: 01/06/04
Posts: 1474
Loc: California
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?


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#122281 - 02/23/04 11:45 AM Re: I want a recount
jheem Offline
veteran

Registered: 01/06/04
Posts: 1474
Loc: California
It's a fine line between Dutch, Flemish, and Afrikaans.


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#122282 - 06/30/04 05:54 AM Re: I want a recount
doc_comfort Offline
addict

Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 618
Loc: Australia
Oligopoly, for one

Wouldn't that be: oligopoly, for several?

I knew there was a reason I came back.


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#122283 - 07/05/04 09:17 AM boss
wofahulicodoc Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/06/01
Posts: 3776
Loc: Worcester, MA
And is "bos-" meaning protuberant part also seen in "proboscis" ? Or is that redundant? or parallel evolution?


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