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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread jalap #121359 01/26/2004 8:21 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 O.Henry tells of a lawyer with amnesia on a train with a pharmacist, who mentions "jalap". I was dumbfounded at how much ancient information is available about this long outdated botanical purgative. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Jalap \Jal"ap\, n. [F., fr. Sp. jalapa; -- so called from Jalapa, a town in Mexico, whence it was first obtained.] (Med.) The tubers of the Mexican plant Ipom[oe]a purga (or Exogonium purga), a climber much like the morning-glory. The abstract, extract, and powder, prepared from the tubers, are well known purgative medicines. Other species of Ipom[oe]a yield several inferior kinds of jalap, as the I. Orizabensis, and I. tuberosa. False jalap, the root of Mirabilis Jalapa, four-o'clock, or marvel of Peru. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: jalap #121360 01/26/2004 8:28 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont and jalopy? as in an old, run-down car? I dpn't expect any connection, but jalap made me think of it. formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: jalap #121361 01/26/2004 8:55 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Dear etaoin: a jalopy is an automobile that has had the sxxx knocked out of it, but not by jalap. Just for the hell of it, I tried to see if I could find etymology of jalopy. No luck, but I did find an interesting word: Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Jactitation \Jac"ti*ta"tion\, n. [L. jactitare to utter in public, from jactare. See Jactancy.] 1. (Law) Vain boasting or assertions repeated to the prejudice of another's right; false claim. --Mozley & W. 2. (Med.) A frequent tossing or moving of the body; restlessness, as in delirium. --Dunglison. Jactitation of marriage (Eng. Eccl. Law), a giving out or boasting by a party that he or she is married to another, whereby a common reputation of their matrimony may ensue. --Blackstone Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: jalap #121362 01/26/2004 10:43 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont thanks, Dr. Bill. jactitation is an interesting word. the 2nd def caught my eye. my wife and I call that "bus ride", as in the feeling you get after being cooped up on a bus for a long time. makes you very restless. formerly known as etaoin... 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 Website 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

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