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#106653 07/03/03 03:15 AM
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In ten-pin bowling, a right-handed bowler is supposed to make the course of the ball curve from the near right-hand gutter so as to strike the headpin (#1) and the pin just behind and to the headpin's right (#3). When a right-handed bowler instead causes the course of the ball to cross over the center-line of the alley and strike the left-hand side of the headpin and, often, the pin just behind and to the left of it (#2), this is called "Brooklyn" which is, mostly, I think, capitalized.


#106654 07/03/03 04:35 AM
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Common term in the navy: when you moor alongside another ship, bow to stern, you are doing it "chinese." Never seen it written, but presume it's not capitalized.


#106655 07/03/03 11:48 AM
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China/china is a valid example. good thinking.

but chinese, or danish, or viennaese, or other words with an ese or ishor ian ending are obviously adjectives.. a russian tea room is one that serves tea from a samovor, not a tea pot as they do in an english tea room.. but we don't say russia tea room, or england tea room.

i think meccian, or meccaish would not be a problem for muslims, but i do see their point.. their holy city is used as a synonym in all sorts of non religious ways, and its not capitalized, and we do not use an ending to make teh word into a adjective, the way almost every other use of proper name is.


#106656 07/03/03 11:51 AM
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Brooklyn

oh, thanks for that one, Father Steve! when I was a kid, my Mom would take me with her to her bowling league. I have such fond memories of giant paper airplanes made from score sheets, and some of the terms used, such as "Brooklyn". I haven't heard that for a looong time...



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#106657 07/03/03 12:46 PM
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How about jerusalem artichokes? or crépe de chine?
Also, amperes, volts, roëntgens and a whole host of specialist terms do not capitalise on their eponymous originators.


#106658 07/05/03 12:58 PM
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roëntgen

I know what it means and that it is the discoverer's name. BUT. How is it *pronounced? Arrrggghhh.


#106659 07/05/03 01:32 PM
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http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=roentgen

Pronunciation: 'rent-g&n, 'r&nt-, -j&n, -sh&n




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#106660 07/05/03 01:54 PM
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It does go against my grain not to capitalize a proper noun.
I used to try and do it with all screen names here, 'till tsuwm slapped my wrist hard enough to learn me.


#106661 07/05/03 02:54 PM
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OK, so it's rent-gen, right? Accent on rent. Sometimes the proununciation guides are more confusing than helpful. Sigh


#106662 07/05/03 03:13 PM
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wow, did you listen to the audio example? m-w has them for each word. just click on the little speaker icon next to the word.



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