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Finding out that the word "queue" comes from old french "coeu" meaning coward, from latin for "tail", was fascinating. However, what I'd hoped to learn was why the word is spelled and pronounced as it is. And I'm sure there is someone out there who can give me the reason.
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old french "coeu" meaning coward, from latin for "tail", Well now, that's interesting, since the French for heart is coeur. I can't explain the Hx. of the French pronunciation, but queue is pronounced CUE-you because that's what it looks like. (And I don't wanna hear 'bout no stinkin' accents, neither.) Two syllables. Period. No arguin'.
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I haven't looked it up, but isn't the pigtail of the Chinese man also called a queue?
Will now look it up to see whether I've malremembered.
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>pigtail
that's how I remember it, tue...
formerly known as etaoin...
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Yes, that was it, but, wow, the qu- pages are very much fun! All kinds of drinking vessels and other unusual words! Well worth the look. I especially like 'queme'--to please; and 'quemeful'--merciful. Need to further check out 'qualled' to see whether I can find a more extensive definition than 'of quail' to see whether it's the fowl or the verb...
Nope. Qualled is strictly of the verb. Shoot. I hate losing a nature word...
Kupatchka, I do hope you'll learn soon why queue is spelled as it is!!! It is very interesting to think about that coward at the tail end of some group of fighting men.
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It is very interesting to think about that coward at the tail end of some group of fighting men.
Yes, Wordwind, and it's even more interesting to reflect on the fact that at the very tail end of all those fighting men is a General safely esconced in his impenetrable redoubt - which reminds us all of this question so often asked by mourning mothers throughout the ages:
"Why do young men fight old men's wars?"
As to why "queue" is spelled "queue" and not "cue", one can ask why "quay" is pronounced "key".
The British seem to have a certain fascinating eccentricity about such things [perhaps because they think they invented the language]. Americans are less given to these embroideries. For them, a "Quay" is a "Key", not a "Quay", and they will not stand for "queues".
In fact, you can't even get an American to stand in a line-up any more [unless they happen to be in police custody, of course]. They can even buy their groceries with a digitized plastic card.
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You haven't been to Wal-Mart recently, have you, plutarch?
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You haven't been to Wal-Mart recently, have you, plutarch?
Never inside if there is a line-up, Wordwind. I'm spoiled too.
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...pigtail of the Chinese...
Does he have to be Chinese?
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