Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
You are not logged in. [Log In] Wordsmith.org » Forums » General Topics » Q&A about words » Shark adjective Register User Forum List Calendar Active Topics Search
FAQ
Topic Options ![]()
#207979 - 11/11/12 07:51 AM Re: Shark adjective [Re: gaijin]
![]()
Carpal Tunnel
![]()
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 5249
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague Welcome! It shows from this Etymlogy Online site that not all words have met with Latin in the past:
shark (noun)
1560s, of uncertain origin; apparently the word and the first specimen were brought to London by Capt. John Hawkins's second expedition (landed 1565; see Hakluyt).
There is no proper name for it that I knowe, but that sertayne men of Captayne Haukinses doth call it a 'sharke' [handbill advertising an exhibition of the specimen, 1569]
The meaning "dishonest person who preys on others," though only attested from 1599 (sharker in this sense is from 1594), may be the original sense, later applied to the large, voracious marine fish. It is possibly from Ger. Schorck, a variant of Schurke "scoundrel, villain," agent noun of M.H.G. schürgen (Ger. schüren) "to poke, stir." The English word was applied to voracious or predatory persons, on the image of the fish, from 1707 (originally of pick-pockets); loan shark is attested from 1905. Sharkskin was used for binding books, etc. As the name of a type of fabric held to resemble it, it is recorded from 1932.
There is the ordinary Brown Shark, or sea attorney, so called by sailors; a grasping, rapacious varlet, that in spite of the hard knocks received from it, often snapped viciously at our steering oar. [Herman Melville, "Mardi"]
Top
Entire topic Subject Posted by Posted ![]()
Shark adjective
gaijin 11/11/12 05:37 AM ![]()
Re: Shark adjective
BranShea 11/11/12 07:51 AM ![]()
Re: Shark adjective
zmjezhd 11/11/12 08:25 AM ![]()
Re: Shark adjective
Alex Williams 11/14/12 04:41 PM
Moderator: Jackie
Forum Stats 8423 Members
16 Forums
13686 Topics
209764 Posts
Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM
Newest Members teepee, smoothcriminal86, janbra, junebug, Stephen A
8423 Registered Users
Who's Online 0 registered (), 40 Guests and 2 Spiders online. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters (30 Days)
LukeJavan8 88 jenny jenny 63 wofahulicodoc 53 endymion6 46 Rhubarb Commando 35 BranShea 34 Buffalo Shrdlu 17 Jackie 15 zmjezhd 14 Faldage 12
May Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Board Rules · Mark all read Contact Us · Wordsmith.org · Top
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.
Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat© 2013 Wordsmith
Previous Topic
Index