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#177158 05/28/2008 1:16 PM
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scrawny?


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As it gives
1. thin
2. unmelodious,
it gives the impression that it is mainly used in a musical context.

Do you use scrawny referring to any aspect of music?

BranShea #177160 05/28/2008 2:25 PM
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Bran: Apparently so, but somewhat obscure as I had never heard it used that way:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFD8153BF934A35757C0A96E948260


dalehileman
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From etymonline
 Quote:
scrannel
"thin, meager," 1637; any modern use traces to John Milton ("Lycidas," 124), who may have invented it from dial. scranny (see scrawny). Or from a Scand. source akin to Norw. skran "rubbish."


Lycidas
 Quote:
And, when they list, their lean and fleshy songs
Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw;
The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed, 125
But, swoln with wind and the rank mist they draw,
Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread;
Besides what the grim Wolf with privy paw
Daily devours apace, and nothing said.


Looks like unmelodious may have come first.

BranShea #177163 05/28/2008 3:42 PM
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 Originally Posted By: BranShea
Do you use scrawny referring to any aspect of music?


not normally, no. but I wasn't really thinking about the musical connection, anyway, rather the similarity in both meaning and sound of scrannel and scrawny. which I see Myr has addressed.

not to mention flannel. which isn't usually scrannel until after it's been well-loved.

:¬ )


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Myr :
 Quote:
Looks like unmelodious may have come first.

While Milton's L'Allegro, il Pensero ed il Moderato has been put to music very melodiously by G.F.Handel.

\:\) scranny and scrawny for violin music (Dale's link) I can imagine what that might sound like.Thin Katzengejammer.

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 Originally Posted By: dalehileman
Bran: Apparently so, but somewhat obscure as I had never heard it used that way:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFD8153BF934A35757C0A96E948260

hee hee \:\/
Obscure adj. a thing that dalehileman has never heard before

Myridon #177167 05/29/2008 5:45 AM
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Lycidas
 Quote:
And, when they list, their lean and fleshy songs
Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw;
The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed, 125
But, swoln with wind and the rank mist they draw,
Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread;
Besides what the grim Wolf with privy paw
Daily devours apace, and nothing said.


I clinged to Milton because his poetry is so "melodious" it sort of asks to be set to music and this one I mentionend is a two CD's long a beautiful upliftng experience. Starting with:
"Hence, loathed melancholy" and ending two CD's later with "Thy
pleasures, Moderation give,".

Not one scrannel bit in it.(sorry . I'm not doing the music review , but I recommend it as a lift for low energy.


Moderated by  Jackie 

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