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#53207 01/24/02 09:21 PM
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There was one other substance derived from whales that commanded an extremely high price, because only small quantities were ever found. Sometimes floating, sometimes cast up on beaches. Can you name it?


#53208 01/24/02 09:33 PM
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its been on the tip of my tongue for the past hour! and i still can't think of it..

it's ear wax ? or adreanal fat? or some such odd thing, a waxy substance.. and its used as a fixative for perfume..

now days there are synthetic compounds that do the same thing, but its still the best, and used in the best perfumes.. and its.. its.. Oh drat!


#53209 01/24/02 10:24 PM
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Hurry up, Mav. Of troy's on the right track.I just found the answer by searching using two of Helen's words.

Maybe Mav's already gone to bed.


#53210 01/24/02 11:57 PM
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Are you thinking of ambergris?


#53211 01/25/02 01:18 AM
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You got it, wofahulicodoc. Incidentally for anyone interested, there is a nice site about Ambergris.

http://www.netstrider.com/documents/ambergris/ You have to click on things to get text.


#53212 01/25/02 02:15 AM
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Your mention of thimbles brings to mind a couple of my favorite German words. The German word for thimble is Fingerhut which means literally, 'finger hat'. The word for glove is Handschuh, 'handshoe'. Incredibly literal minded, those Krauts.


#53213 01/25/02 02:22 AM
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Dear Bob: the one that still baffles me is how did "skein" come to mean the same thing as "thimble"?


#53214 01/25/02 10:08 PM
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Your mention of thimbles brings to mind a couple of my favorite German words. The German word for thimble is Fingerhut which means literally, 'finger hat'. The word for glove is Handschuh, 'handshoe'. Incredibly literal minded, those Krauts.

You're right. You should see what they did with "final solution"!



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#53215 01/25/02 11:01 PM
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Thank you, CK. That too is a subject for jest.


#53216 01/25/02 11:20 PM
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and what are those little clamps called that ropes are wrapped around?
I haven't got the foggiest what a "futtock shroud" is, WW, but those "little clamps" are called "cleats".


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