|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981 |
Syrup of figs helps you go when you just can't.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
>>Syrup of figs helps you go when you just can't.<< I guess the brevity of this post is what led me to note the proximity (applicability??) of enthusiast! Sorry, Jo! 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 112
member
|
|
member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 112 |
>>Syrup of figs helps you go when you just can't.<< Jackie - I seem to remember that Jo's line is a quotation verbatim from the advert for the product, circa 1950! If it wasn't, it should be! And, incidentally, the brand name that I remember is "California Syrup of Figs". Go figger!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679
addict
|
|
OP
addict
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679 |
> I think the reason Anna used that term is that she lives in
"Dixieland". (Technically, I do too, but Kentucky was neutral during the American Civil War, and is not the "Deep South"
geographically.)
I did not know this! This is presumably why Lincoln was in such a quandry during the war. He was a Kentuckian (despite his affiliations with the Hoosier state) and members of his family fought on both sides - though up until now I never knew why. If you can, read his autobiography which, next to that of Ulysses Grant, is one of the greatest works of factual literature to come out of the US.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 28
newbie
|
|
newbie
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 28 |
Jackie,
Don't mind at all. Am Down Under - Melbourne, where the Olympic Games aren't.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4
stranger
|
|
stranger
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4 |
Hold on--I thought I just read something recently that "dixie" came from the French word for ten,"dix". This is a vague memory, but it had something to do with the money they were using...? Sound familiar, anyone?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
try doing a 'google' search on the phrase "dixie origin", without the quotes -- the first couple of hits should give you the whole magilla of possible etymologies... http://google.com
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4
stranger
|
|
stranger
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4 |
Thanks, Michael!
The Google search was new to me. The dix note was the French currency in use by New Orleans banks during the war. However, there are several other explanations for the word's origin.
If I'm going to be reading this forum I'm going to need a new dictionary. Mine does not include the word "magilla". I assume, from context, it means a whole boat-load?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1
stranger
|
|
stranger
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1 |
According to my Colombian in-laws, the word gringo is derived from when the military came into the latin countries. The locals would reference their coloured clothing and tell them - "green go".
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 112
member
|
|
member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 112 |
>>Mine does not include the word "magilla". I assume, from context, it means a whole boat-load?<< There was a thread discussing Yiddish terms that have become common usage in English - look under Miscellany > Translations, for more. Magilla, (or more correctly, "Megillah", means a long involved story or account <the whole megillah> (Webster)
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,614
Members9,187
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
283
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
