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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread cochlear #107133 07/06/2003 11:09 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 The word "cochlear" in the Thayer site is said to mean both screw and snail. The Greeks had olive oil and wine presses based on a wooden screw by 100 BC. But metal screws did not appear until the 1500s. I first heard the word describing the structure in the inner ear, which does look like a smail with conical helix. I couldn't find any pictures of the wine or oil presses, but I suppose they looked something like the first printing presses. I used to wonder if the snail shell inspired the invention of the screw as a boring tool, an auger. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: cochlear #107134 07/06/2003 11:24 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 maverick Carpal Tunnel maverick Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 A slow screw that augured well for the future? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: cochlear #107135 07/06/2003 11:40 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont I'm sure this will Phill-up and spiral with many bad puns... better quickly find your slot... formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: cochlear #107136 07/07/2003 4:21 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 As a semirhotic Bostonian, I regret having added a superfluous "r" at end of this word. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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