#76734 - 07/22/02 12:59 PM
Re: Napier's Bones
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stranger
Registered: 07/22/02
Posts: 9
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The part where you mention triginometry seems to be a quote. As you imply later, that quote is wrong. The bones are for ordinary mutliplication, not for trig.
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#76735 - 07/22/02 01:03 PM
Re: Near
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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We had a discussion of this a long time ago, which I am sure nobody remembers.
Near Side and Off Side. Left side and right side. “Near wheel” means that to the coachman's left hand;
and “near horse” (in a pair) means that to the left hand of the driver. In a four-in-hand the two horses on
the left side of the coachman are the near wheeler and the near leader. Those on the right hand side of the
coachman are “off horses.” This, which seems an anomaly, arose when the driver walked beside his
team. The teamster always walks with his right arm nearest the horse, and therefore, in a pair of horses,
the horse on the left side is nearer than the one on his right.
In a discussion for reasons UK vehicles drive on left side of road, it seemed logical to me
to think it had started with drivers of carriages using right hand to lead horses when it
was necessary, and wanting to be close to shoulder of road, rather than in middle where
they would be in danger from oncoming vehicles. Nobody agreed with me.
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#76736 - 07/22/02 01:15 PM
Re: Nebraska
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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Nebraska U.S. A word of Indian origin, meaning the “shallow river.”
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#76737 - 07/22/02 03:17 PM
Re: Nine
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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Nine Points of the Law Success in a law-suit requires (1) a good deal of money; (2) a good deal of
patience; (3) a good cause; (4) a good lawyer; (5) a good counsel; (6) good witnesses; (7) a good jury; (8)
a good judge; and (9) good luck.
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#76738 - 07/22/02 03:28 PM
Re: Noel
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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Noel Christmas day, or a Christmas carol. A contraction of nouvelles (tidings), written in old English,
nowells.
“A child this day is born, A child of high renown, Most worthy of a sceptre, A sceptre and a
crown. Nowells, nowells, nowells! Sing all we may, Because that Christ, the King. Was born
this blessed day.” Old Carol.
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#76739 - 07/22/02 03:34 PM
Re: Non Sequitur
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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Non Sequitur (A). A conclusion which does not follow from the premises stated.
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#76740 - 07/22/02 03:36 PM
Re: Nonce
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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Nonce For the nonce. A corruption of for then anes (for then once), meaning for this once. “An apron”
for a naperon is an example of n transferred the other way. We have some halfdozen similar examples in
the language, as “tother day”- i.e. the other or &that; other = the other. Nuncle used in King Lear, which
was originally mineuncle. An arrant knave is a narrant knave. (See Nag .)
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#76741 - 07/22/02 03:50 PM
Re:Nostrum
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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Nostrum means Our own. It is applied to a quack medicine, the ingredients of which are supposed to be
a secret of the compounders. (Latin.)
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#76742 - 07/22/02 04:01 PM
Re: Nottingham
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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Nottingham (Saxon, Snotingaham, place of caves). So called from the caverns in the soft sandstone
rock. Montecute took King Edward III. through these subterranean passages to the hill castle, where he
found the “gentle Mortimer” and Isabella, the dowager-queen. The former was slain, and the latter
imprisoned. The passage is still called “Mortimer's Hole.”
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#76743 - 07/22/02 04:12 PM
Re: Nunation
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
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Nunation Adding N to an initial vowel, as Nol for Ol[iver], Nell for Ell[en], Ned for Ed[ward].
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