#75036
07/07/2002 3:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Dear marjorum: When a lot ofmoney was involved, good New England business men
seldom let their conscience bother them.
I used to think Thor Heyerdahl was marvelous. It appears to be well cocumented that he
was more interested in becoming famous than he was in being truthful.
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#75037
07/07/2002 3:31 PM
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6 |
> good New England business men
From what I can find on line, Frederic Tudor sounds like the classic yankee success story of perseverence in the face of difficulties.
http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/scienceandnature/0,6121,650835,00.html
"If you are looking for a classic example of the most particularly American virtue - commercial ingenuity boosted by extraordinary perseverance - then Frederic Tudor is your paradigm. ... Tudor's problem was getting the stuff (ice) from here to there without meltdown in transit ... Doggedly, Tudor tried one form of insulation after another ...
The ultimate triumph came 32 years after the brainwave first struck ... until 1849 he was perpetually in debt, narrowly escaping imprisonment for unpaid bills and enduring a nervous breakdown on the way. Competitors entered the market and he could only beat them off by undercutting them, which was not an invariably successful strategy. There were other, non-commercial, forms of hostility, as well as much ridicule. Thoreau was scathing when Tudor started cutting ice from Walden Pond"
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#75038
07/07/2002 3:35 PM
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Posts: 13,858
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Husband is the house farmer. Bonde is Norwegian for a "farmer," hence bondė-by (a village where
farmers dwell); and hus means "house." Hus-band-man is the man-of-the-house farmer. The husband,
therefore, is the master farmer, and the husband-man the servant or labourer. "Husbandry" is the
occupation of a farmer or husband; and a bondman or bondslave has no connection with bond = fetters,
or the verb to bind. It means simply a cultivator of the soil.
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#75039
07/07/2002 3:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Hussy A little hussy. A word of slight contempt, though in some counties it seems to mean simply girl, as
"Come hither, hussy." Of course, the word is a corruption of housewife or hussif. In Swedish hustru
means woman in general. It is rather remarkable that mother in Norfolk has given rise to a similar sort of
word, morther, as "Come hither, morther" - i.e. girl. Neither hussy nor morther is applied to married
women. In Norfolk they also say mor for a female, and bor for the other sex. Moer is Dutch for woman
in general, and boer for peasant, whence our boor.
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#75040
07/07/2002 3:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Hustings House - things or city courts. London has still its court of Hustings in Guildhall, in which are
elected the lord mayor, the aldermen, and city members. The hustings of elections are so called because,
like the court of Hustings, they are the places of elective assemblies. (Anglo-Saxon, husting, a place of
council.)
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#75041
07/07/2002 3:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Hyades (3 syl.). Seven nymphs placed among the stars, in the constellation Taurus, which threaten rain
when they rise with the sun. The fable is that they wept the death of their brother Hyas so bitterly, that
Zeus (1 syl.), out of compassion, took them to heaven, and placed them in the constellation Taurus.
(Greek, huein, to rain.)
A bit of trivia: The emblem of Subaru, because it is result of merger ofseven small Japanese car companies
is a representation of the Hyades
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#75042
07/07/2002 3:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Hyksos A tribe of Cuthites (2 syl.), driven out of Assyria by Aralius and the Shemites. They founded in
Egypt a dynasty called Hyksos (shepherd kings), a title assumed by all the Cuthite chiefs. This dynasty,
which gave Egypt six or eight kings, lasted 259 years, when the whole horde was driven from Egypt, and
retired to Palestine. It is from these refugees that the lords of the Philistines arose. The word is
compounded of hyk (king) and sos (shepherd).
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#75043
07/07/2002 3:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Hyssop David says (Ps. li. 7): "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean." The reference is to the
custom of someone who was ceremoniously "clean" sprinkling the unclean (when they came to present
themselves in the Temple) with a bunch of hyssop dipped in water, in which had been mixed the ashes of
a red heifer. This was done as they left the Court of the Gentiles to enter the Court of the women
(Numbers xix. 17).
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#75044
07/07/2002 4:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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I This letter represents a finger, and is called in Hebrew yod or jod (a hand).
I wonder if "jod" is in any way related to Greek "iota".
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#75045
07/07/2002 4:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
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Ichor (I'-kor). The colourless blood of the heathen deities. (Greek, ichor, juice.)
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#75046
07/07/2002 4:21 PM
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Posts: 13,858
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Ichthus for l e'sous, CH ristos, TH eou U ios, S oter. This notarica is found on many seals, rings, urns,
and tombstones, belonging to the early times of Christianity, and was supposed to be a "charm" of
mystical efficacy.
Apparently not related to "ictus"
c[tus 7ik4t!s8
n.,
pl. 3tus[es or 3tus 5L, a blow, stroke, metrical stress < pp. of icere, to strike, hit, beat < IE base *aik3, *ik3, spear, to strike with a sharp weapon > Gr aichmc, a spear6
1 rhythmic or metrical stress, or accent
2 Med. a convulsion, stroke, or sudden attack
I have been unable to find definition of "notarica"
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#75047
07/07/2002 8:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Iconoclasts (Greek, "image breakers"). Reformers who rose in the eighth century, especially averse to
the employment of pictures, statues, emblems, and all visible representations of sacred objects. The
crusade against these things began in 726 with the Emperor Leo III., and continued for one hundred and
twenty years. (Greek, ikon, an image; klao, I break.)
Now used principally to refer to people who try to overthrow traditional values or beliefs
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#75048
07/07/2002 8:05 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
>Thor Heyerdahl's adventures sparked interest in archaeology and anthropology - but was he more shaman than scholar?Well, does it matter if he helped create such enthusiasm and inspiration? In many ways I'd say a shaman is the best teacher. In fact, by definition a shaman is the best teacher. A scholar is merely the best student.  Fisk
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#75049
07/07/2002 8:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Idiot meant originally a private person, one not engaged in any public office. Hence Jeremy Taylor says,
"Humility is a duty in great ones, as well as in idiots" (private persons). The Greeks have the expressions,
"a priest or an idiot" (layman), "a poet or an idiot" (prose-writer). As idiots were not employed in public
offices, the term became synonymous with incompetency to fulfil the duties thereof. (Greek, idiotes.)
(See Baron.)
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#75050
07/07/2002 8:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Ignis Fatuus means strictly a fatuous fire it is also called "Jack o' Lantern," "Spunkie," "Walking Fire,"
"Will o' the Wisp," and "Fair Maid of Ireland." Milton calls it Friar's Lanthern, and Sir Walter Scott
Friar Rush with a lantern. Morally speaking, a Utopian scheme, no more reducible to practice than the
meteor so called can be turned to any useful end. (Plural, Ignes fatui.)
A mystery to the ancients, it is now recognized that the tiny flames oocasionally seen above swampy
places are due to spontaneous ignition of methane produced by decomposition of cellulose and other
such things below the surface.
The word fatuus means illusory or unreal.
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#75051
07/07/2002 8:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Illinois U.S. America. The Delaware Indian word illini (real men) with the French termination -ois.
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#75052
07/07/2002 8:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Imaus (3 syl.). The Himalay'a, The word means snow hills (hima, snow).
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#75053
07/07/2002 8:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Imbecile (3 syl.). One mentally weak. Literally, one who leans "on a stick." (Latin, imbecillis, from
inbacillum.)
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#75054
07/07/2002 8:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Imbroglio (Italian). A complicated plot; a misunderstanding between nations and persons of a
complicated nature.
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#75055
07/07/2002 8:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Immolate (3 syl.). To sacrifice; literally, "put meal on one." The reference is to the ancient custom of
sprinkling meal and salt on the head of a victim to be offered in sacrifice. (Latin, in-molo.)
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#75056
07/07/2002 8:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Indiarubber A substance made from the sap of various tropical plants, and used for erasing pencil marks,
and many other purposes. Pronounce Indirubber.
This was written over a hundred years ago. Little did the author suspect the future of rubber.
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#75057
07/07/2002 9:32 PM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 7,210 |
In reply to:
I have been unable to find definition of "notarica"
try here:
http://takeourword.com/TOW130/page2.html
(third one down)
formerly known as etaoin...
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#75058
07/07/2002 9:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Thanks, etaoin. Joke on me. I think I have seen every TOW issue except that one.
They went on vacation, and when they came back, somehow I missed that one.
That guy must have looked at the same Dictionary of Phrase and Fable that I am
taking these posts from. I am doing it mostly so board won't look so empty until
the oldtimers come back.
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#75059
07/08/2002 9:25 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
Ichthus for l e'sous, CH ristos, TH eou U ios, S oterFascinating. Doesn't Christian mysticism depict Christ as a fish in any case? I remember hearing there is also an astrological connection, in that the birth of Christ marked the "Age of Pisces". As everyone knows we're in the Age of Aquarius now (maan  ).
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#75060
07/08/2002 12:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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But not a Fish on a bike.
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#75061
07/08/2002 4:52 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 475
addict
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addict
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 475 |
hobnobs are the best biscuits in the world, i never thought about the origin of the name but i suppose for biscuits it makes sense. and who would have thought that hob nobbing is just basically being the shy/socially inept/minging one in the kitchen at a party
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#75062
07/08/2002 5:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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I have a hazy recollection that the fish symbol for Christ was created at a time
when Christians were being persecuted, and needed a sort of secret mutual
recognition symbol.
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#75063
07/09/2002 12:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Innis Fodhla [Island of Destiny ], an old name of Ireland.
"Long before the westerr districts of Innis Fodhla had any settled name ... a powerful king
reigned over this part of the sacred island. [The king referred to was Connedda, who gave his
name to the province of Connacht]." - W. B. Yeats: Fairy Tales and Folk-Lore, pp. 306, 318.
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#75064
07/09/2002 12:03 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Innuendo An implied or covert hint of blame. It is a law term, meaning the person nodded to or indirectly
referred to (Latin, in-nuo).
"Implying or suggesting, instead of stating plainly, often increases the effect of what is intended
to give pain or pleasure. This is `innuendo.' " - Bain: Composition, etc. (Innuendo), part i. p.
212.
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#75065
07/09/2002 12:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Inoculate (4 syl.) is to put in an eye (Latin, in oculus). The allusion is to a plan adopted by gardeners
who insert the "eye" or small bud of a superior plant into the stock of an inferior one, in order to produce
flowers or fruits of better quality.
How this word has changed in a hundred years!
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#75066
07/09/2002 12:09 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Insolence (Latin, in-soleo.) Unusual conduct, that is, not according to the common courtesies of social
life.
A pretty tame definition compared to the present one.
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#75067
07/09/2002 12:19 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Instinct Something pricked or punctured into one. Distinguish is of the same root, and means to prick or
puncture separately. Extinguish means to prick or puncture out. IL all cases the allusion is to marking by
a puncture. At college the "markers" at the chapel doors still hold a pin in one hand, and prick with it the
name of each "man" who enters. The word is used to express a natural impulse to do something; an
inherent habit.
"Although reason may ... be blended with instinct the distinction between the two is sufficiently
precise. Reason only acts upon a defluite and often laboriously acquired knowledge of the
relation between means and ends." - Romanes: Encyclopędia Britannica, vol. xiii. p. 157
(ninth edition).
defluite - I wonder if this is a typo for "definite"?
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#75068
07/09/2002 12:21 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Insult To leap on the prostrate body of a foe. To treat with contumely.
Please do not leap on my prostrate body!
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#75069
07/09/2002 12:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Intaglio (Italian). A design cut in a gem, like a crest or initials in a stamp. The design does not stand out
in relief, as in cameos, but is hollowed in.
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#75070
07/09/2002 12:27 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Intellect The power of reading mentally; hence the power of understanding and quickly grasping what
requires intelligence and thought. (Latin, intus lego, I read within me.)
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#75071
07/09/2002 12:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Intercalary (Latin). Inserted between or amongst others. Thus, an intercalary day is a day foisted in
between two others, as the 29th February in leap-year. (See Calends.)
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#75072
07/09/2002 12:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Interest (Latin). Something that is between the parties concerned. The interest of money is the sum
which the borrower agrees to pay the lender for its use. To take an interest in anything is to feel there is
something between it and you which may affect your pleasure.
Interest for money. In the Tudor dynasty it was 10 per cent. (37 Henry VIII. chap. 9). In the reign of
James it was reduced to 8 per cent.; in Queen Anno's reign to 5 per cent.; in the last quarter of the
nineteenth century it was reduced to 22 per cent.
I suspect that "22 percent" should read 2.2 percent
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#75073
07/09/2002 12:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Interlard (French). To put lard or fat between layers of meat. Metaphorically, to mix what is the solid
part of a discourse with fulsome and irrelevant matter. Thus we say, "To interland with oaths," to
"interlard with compliments," etc.
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#75074
07/09/2002 12:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Interpolate (4 syl.). For two or more persons to polish up something between them. Metaphorically, to
insert spurious matter in a book or document; to gag. (Latin, inter polio, to polish.)
Apparently mathematical use not a hundred years old.
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#75075
07/09/2002 12:47 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Intoxication Pliny (xvi. 20) tells us this word is derived from taxa, a species of bay-tree used for
poisoning arrows. Hence the Greek toxon (a bow and arrows), and toxicon (rank poison).
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