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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread ructions #140558 03/06/2005 9:58 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 Sparteye Pooh-Bah Sparteye Pooh-Bah Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 My new word for the day is ructions, which is apparently a fairly common term across the pond. Ructions is perhaps a shortening of insurrection, and means a noisy fight or disturbance. I am told by a British friend that it is used in the plural, although the various online dictionaries seem to define it in the singular. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: ructions #140559 03/06/2005 11:28 PM Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 5,400 rego park of troy Carpal Tunnel of troy Carpal Tunnel Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 5,400 rego park mmm. it could be from ruccus.. more than one ruccus would be a collection of ruccuses, or ructions.. now i have to go find out what a ruccus is. (i know my sisters and i used to have them.. or cause them.. but then, when i was also told i looked like the wreck of the hesperous when my blouse was pulled out from the waist band of my skirt.. my other obsession Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: ructions #140560 03/07/2005 12:08 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York Hmm... why does this remind me of burping? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: ructions #140561 03/07/2005 9:35 AM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,624 Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok Capfka Pooh-Bah Capfka Pooh-Bah Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,624 Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok Because you live in upstate New York. That's quite sufficient explanation ... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: ructions #140562 03/07/2005 11:05 AM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 maverick Carpal Tunnel maverick Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 > Ructions is perhaps a shortening of insurrection So I see a dictionary speculates, but I would have thought it's infinitely more likely to come from destruction in its singular form, and then post facto to have gained the plural form by addition of the final /s/. However, I'd be interested to hear what the OED has on this WAG [grumblegrumble] Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit what the OED has #140563 03/07/2005 12:01 PM Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC Of obscure origin, but in the 1831 cite, connected with insurrection. TEd Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: ructions #140564 03/07/2005 12:37 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York Because you live in upstate New York. That's quite sufficient explanation ... Well, we *do have good beer here, even by Brit or Belgian standards. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: ructions #140565 03/07/2005 8:04 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,624 Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok Capfka Pooh-Bah Capfka Pooh-Bah Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,624 Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok Well, we *do have good beer here, even by Brit or Belgian standards. I'd like to believe you, Betsy, I really would. But ... 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