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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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I just got an e-mail from an Aussie friend, who said he'll be renting his house at a "peppercorn rate". I think he meant cheaply, but where did this expression come from, do you know?
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Joined: Nov 2011
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,075 |
Yep - in the Middle Ages in Britain, pepper was actually quite an expensive spice. However, to pay just one pepper corn (from which pepper is ground) was still a lot less than most rents, so the lease or agreement drawn up between friends, with one making a gift to the other for whatever reason, but to make it a truly legal contract, the rent was one pepper corn per year. Other commodities were used, as well, for the same reason, to ake a contract legally binding.
I'm immortal until proven otherwise
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Peppercorn price. We still have standing expressions such as 'for a peppered price' or 'as expensive as pepper', meaning really extra expensive.
(no mention of a single corn saying)
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Joined: Nov 2011
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,075 |
Makes sense, Bran - in the C17 and C18, the Dutch were the main importers of spices from their connections in the East Indies and other places in the Far East.
I'm immortal until proven otherwise
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
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I'm sure many of the traders and common sailors slipped a few unaccounted for corns into their pockets. 
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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Didn't their sneezing then give them away? 
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 19 |
Didn't their sneezing then give them away? Until ground it's not likely a problem. Like an onion that's perfectly fine until you start to peel or slice it, then, WAAAAAAHHHHHH!
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Oh man, what is the name of that chemical in onions? I was just trying to think of it the other day.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
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Sulphur. Compound of the whole Genus Allium. Antidiabolic, antivampiric, antianything that isn't good for your health. Link
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