Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Weekly Themes Fugleman
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
OP I object! Sometimes the simplest explanation is the best. Why must fugleman have to be contorted to conform to a German root -- flügelmann? A more convincing etymology is from the Danish (Danish being a mother tongue of English). Fugleman would be Danish fuglemand, "birdman," or someone who flies ahead, i.e. a scout, a leader. Birds and (in ancient cultures) birdmen have always been indicators, portents, who lead the way. (Remember the marvelous old film clip of the Northwest Indians landing a canoe, led on the prow by Birdman.) Why not here? Flank man? I don't think so.
Last edited by LongBeachJack; 10/18/07 12:44 AM.
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted Fugleman LongBeachJack 10/18/07 12:42 AM Re: Fugleman zmjezhd 10/18/07 03:02 AM Re: Fugleman MosesLiang 10/18/07 07:05 AM
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,913Posts229,396Members9,182 Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now 1 members (1 invisible), 743 guests, and 1 robot. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 28
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,576tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,921Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org