In reply to:
Q1: How come COED def #2 gives the origin for this version of the word as from the Latin for heart where another dictionary gives it derived from the leather on which the slippery offering was presented to the dogs?
Q2: When did the meaning get transferred from 'bits you feed your hunting dogs' to 'the animal they chase in order to get the treat'?
Allow me to obviousize for a moment on the heart of the matter: These are by and large visceral concerns: the hunt, blood, the means of getting the blood up, the eventual death of the prey or quarry, the excitement at the moment of death, the ripping of skin, the sport itself. It is very interesting to see the supposed origins of these finally related terms all converging smack dab in the middle of a single word quarry. Perhaps the easiest one to understand is the one you mention in which the treats become the prey itself, the association is closely united finally, isn't it? The object becomes the reward, at least in the minds of those trying to manipulate behavior in dogs. Really, Mav': thank you very much for digging into this one. If quarry comes from heart, it's no wonder when considering how there are those who would eat another's heart out--and I remember tsuwm's quoting here some country lyric about stompin' that sucker flat...
Edit: Oh, and a favor to ask of any who write on this thread: Can we avoid off-color, sexual, and profane words on this thread, not that there was in any way a development going that way? Reason: I teach "Most Dangerous Game" in April. I'd love to send my kids to this thread just to get a taste of how words come about since quarry is a vocabulary word in that story. If we don't use any sexual or profane words here, we'll be able to open this one at school. Most threads are fine on AWAD, but sometimes certain ones can't be opened--and I would love to have this one available. Anyway, if possible, thanks.
