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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
maybe a gambit to check on who is listening properly!
BTW, does that etymology perhaps also produce patsy, as in 'the fall-guy'? Although AHD says otherwise, they seem far from sure of their preferred origin:
pat·sy (păt'sē)
n. Slang., pl. -sies.
A person easily taken advantage of, cheated, blamed, or ridiculed.
[Perhaps from Italian pazzo, fool, from Old Italian paccio.]
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Does the OED2 have anything to add?
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
W3 has patzer from G. patzer, a blunderer; and patsy from It. pazzo, a fool. coincidence?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
There are a great many URLs about "patzer". Here is one of them, which even gives sources of tutoring for chess beginners: ] http://home.planet.nl/~jimvandorp/chess/home.htm
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