#76724
07/22/2002 3:51 PM
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N in Spanish, has sometimes a mark over it, thus- ñ. This mark is called a tilde, and alters the sense and
pronunciation of a word. Thus, “pena” means punishment, but “peña,” a rock.
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#76725
07/22/2002 3:56 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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N added to Greek words ending in a short vowel to lengthen it “by position,” and “1” added to French
words beginning with a vowel, when they follow a word ending with a vowel (as si l'on for si on), is
called N or L “ephelcystic” (tagged-on); Greek, epi helko.
"ephelcystic" seems a word that might be fun to find a use for. Any volunteers?
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#76726
07/22/2002 3:59 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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nth or nth plus One, in University slang, means to the utmost degree. Thus, Cut to the nth means wholly
unnoticed by a friend. The expression is taken from the index of a mathematical formula, where n stands
for any number, and n + 1, one more than any number.
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#76727
07/22/2002 4:02 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Nabob' (generally called Nabob). Corruption of the Hindu word nawab, the plural of naib. An
administrator of a province and commander of the Indian army under the Mogul Empire. These men
acquired great wealth and lived in Eastern splendour, so that they gave rise to the phrase, “Rich as the
nawâb,” corrupted into “Rich as a nabob. ” In England we apply the phrase to a merchant who has
attained great wealth in the Indies, and has returned to live in his native country.
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#76728
07/22/2002 4:07 PM
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Nag A horse. This is an example of n of the article joined to the following noun, as in the word newt = an
ewt. (Danish and Norwegian, og; Anglo-Saxon, eoh or eh; Latin, eq[uus]; Dutch, negge.) Taylor (1630)
has naggon, as-
“Wert thou George with thy naggon,
That foughtest with the draggon.”
Shakespeare's naunt and nuncle are mine-aunt and mine-uncle.
I wondered where "nuncle" came from
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#76729
07/22/2002 4:14 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Naga Serpents; the king of them is Sesha, the sacred serpent of Vishnu. (Hindu mythology.)
In Kipling's story about Riki-tiki-tavi the mongoose kills a cobra named "Nag".
And "Naja" is species name for cobra. (not sure "species" is right word)
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#76730
07/22/2002 4:18 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Naiads Nymphs of lakes, fountains, rivers, and streams. Related to "natare" = to swim
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#76731
07/22/2002 4:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better than this rain-water out o’ door. Good nuncle, in; ask thy daughters’ blessing. Here’s a night pities neither wise men nor fools. [/Lear]
And ephelcystically, interesting word that, Bill – "ephelcystic" had me reading it as eff-el-SIS-tic, but I guess from the Latin etymology it’s probably more like ep-hel-KISS-tik. Can you confirm?
I like the sound of this word to describe a social hanger-on, too ~ just a shame no auditor would likely understand!
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#76732
07/22/2002 4:28 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Name Fairies are extremely averse to having their names known, indeed there seems to be a strange
identity between personality and name. Thus we are forbidden to take God's “name in vain,” and when
Jacob wrestled with the angel, he was anxious to know his opponent's name. (Compare the Greek onoma
and the Latin anima.)
It seems to be instinctual to be concerned that letting somebody know you name gives them some
power over you. Witness how few people use their name here in AWADtalk. Bill (see how brave I am)
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#76733
07/22/2002 4:39 PM
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Napiers Bones A method invented by Baron Napier, of Merchiston, for shortening the labour of
trignometrical calculations. Certain figures are arranged on little slips of paper or ivory, and simply by
shifting these slips the result required is obtained. They are called bones because the baron used bone or
ivory rods instead of cardboard.
If I remember correctly, Napier was one of the first people to use logarithms to simplify
multiplication. His "bones" were precursor of slide rule, which few AWADtalk participants
ever used. What a blessing electronic calculators are.
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#76734
07/22/2002 4:59 PM
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jul 2002
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The part where you mention triginometry seems to be a quote. As you imply later, that quote is wrong. The bones are for ordinary mutliplication, not for trig.
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#76735
07/22/2002 5:03 PM
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We had a discussion of this a long time ago, which I am sure nobody remembers.
Near Side and Off Side. Left side and right side. “Near wheel” means that to the coachman's left hand;
and “near horse” (in a pair) means that to the left hand of the driver. In a four-in-hand the two horses on
the left side of the coachman are the near wheeler and the near leader. Those on the right hand side of the
coachman are “off horses.” This, which seems an anomaly, arose when the driver walked beside his
team. The teamster always walks with his right arm nearest the horse, and therefore, in a pair of horses,
the horse on the left side is nearer than the one on his right.
In a discussion for reasons UK vehicles drive on left side of road, it seemed logical to me
to think it had started with drivers of carriages using right hand to lead horses when it
was necessary, and wanting to be close to shoulder of road, rather than in middle where
they would be in danger from oncoming vehicles. Nobody agreed with me.
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#76736
07/22/2002 5:15 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Nebraska U.S. A word of Indian origin, meaning the “shallow river.”
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#76737
07/22/2002 7:17 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Nine Points of the Law Success in a law-suit requires (1) a good deal of money; (2) a good deal of
patience; (3) a good cause; (4) a good lawyer; (5) a good counsel; (6) good witnesses; (7) a good jury; (8)
a good judge; and (9) good luck.
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#76738
07/22/2002 7:28 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Noel Christmas day, or a Christmas carol. A contraction of nouvelles (tidings), written in old English,
nowells.
“A child this day is born, A child of high renown, Most worthy of a sceptre, A sceptre and a
crown. Nowells, nowells, nowells! Sing all we may, Because that Christ, the King. Was born
this blessed day.” Old Carol.
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#76739
07/22/2002 7:34 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Non Sequitur (A). A conclusion which does not follow from the premises stated.
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#76740
07/22/2002 7:36 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Nonce For the nonce. A corruption of for then anes (for then once), meaning for this once. “An apron”
for a naperon is an example of n transferred the other way. We have some halfdozen similar examples in
the language, as “tother day”- i.e. the other or &that; other = the other. Nuncle used in King Lear, which
was originally mineuncle. An arrant knave is a narrant knave. (See Nag .)
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#76741
07/22/2002 7:50 PM
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Posts: 13,858
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Nostrum means Our own. It is applied to a quack medicine, the ingredients of which are supposed to be
a secret of the compounders. (Latin.)
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#76742
07/22/2002 8:01 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Nottingham (Saxon, Snotingaham, place of caves). So called from the caverns in the soft sandstone
rock. Montecute took King Edward III. through these subterranean passages to the hill castle, where he
found the “gentle Mortimer” and Isabella, the dowager-queen. The former was slain, and the latter
imprisoned. The passage is still called “Mortimer's Hole.”
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#76743
07/22/2002 8:12 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Nunation Adding N to an initial vowel, as Nol for Ol[iver], Nell for Ell[en], Ned for Ed[ward].
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#76744
07/23/2002 2:56 PM
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Nunc Stans The everlasting Now.
“It exists in the nunc stans of the schoolmen- the eternal Now that, represented the
consciousness of the Supreme Being in mediaeval thought.”- Nineteenth Century, December,
1892, p. 953.
One of the few ideas of mediaeval thought that I am tempted to share.
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#76745
07/23/2002 2:59 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Nuncupative Will A will or testament made by word of mouth. As a general rule, no will is valid unless
reduced to writing and signed; but soldiers and sailors may simply declare their wish by word of mouth.
(Latin, nuncupo, to declare.)
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#76746
07/23/2002 3:11 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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This entry is a bit puzzling if you don't understand that the "U S" was on supplies
that was property of the United States in a warehouse. I did not know that the
colonial government called itself the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Sam Uncle Sam. The United States Government. Mr. Frost tells us that the inspectors of Elbert
Anderson's store on the Hudson were Ebenezer Wilson and his uncle Samuel Wilson, the latter of whom
superintended in person the workmen, and went by the name of “Uncle Sam.” The stores were marked
E.A.- U.S. (Elbert Anderson, United States). and one of the employers, being asked the meaning, said
U.S. stood for “Uncle Sam.” The joke took, and in the War of Independence the men carried it with
them, and it became stereotyped.
Any comments?
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#76747
07/23/2002 3:13 PM
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679
addict
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addict
Joined: May 2000
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....soldiers and sailors may simply declare their wish by word of mouth.
British soldiers who go on a tour of Northern Ireland must make out a written will.
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#76748
07/23/2002 3:14 PM
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Posts: 13,858
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Samaria according to 1 Kings xvi. 24, means the hill of Shemer. Omri “bought the hill Samaria of
Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of [his] city ... after the name
of Shemer ... Samaria.” (B.C. 925.)
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#76749
07/23/2002 3:26 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Nuremberg Eggs Watches. Watches were invented at Nuremberg about 1500, and were egg-shaped.
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#76750
07/23/2002 3:33 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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There was an old woman tossed up in a basket
Ninety-nine times as high as the moon.
What she did there I could not but ask it
For in each hand she carried a broom.
``Old woman, old woman, old woman,'' said I
``Where are you going to up so high?''
``To sweep the cobwebs from the sky
And you may come with me if you can fly.''
It is said that the old nursery rhyme about an old woman tossed in a blanket was written as a satire
against the French expedition of Henry V., and the cobwebs to be swept from the sky were the points of
contention between the King of England and the King of France.
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#76751
07/23/2002 3:36 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Nuts of May Here we go gathering nuts of May. A corruption of knots or springs of May. We still speak
of “love-knots,” and a bunch of flowers is called a “knot.”
Joke on me. I always thought this was supposed to be nonsensical.
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#76752
07/23/2002 3:40 PM
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It is time to lay our nuts aside (Latin, Relinquere nuces). To leave off our follies, to relinquish boyish
pursuits. The allusion is to an old Roman marriage ceremony, in which the bridegroom, as he led his bride
home, scattered nuts to the crowd, as if to symbolise to them that he gave up his boyish sports.
That's nuts to him. A great pleasure, a fine treat. Nuts, among the Romans, made a standing dish at
dessert; they were also common toys for children; hence, to put away childish things is, in Latin, to put
your nuts away.
At present, instead of being laid aside postnuptually, they would be put to work.
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#76753
07/23/2002 3:44 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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O This letter represents an eye, and is called in Hebrew ain (an eye).
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#76754
07/23/2002 3:46 PM
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O' An Irish patronymic. (Gachc, ogha; Irish, oa, a descendant.)
O' in Scotch, means “of,” as “Tam-o'-Shanter.”
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#76755
07/23/2002 3:49 PM
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O.K A telegraphic symbol for “All right” (orl korrect, a Sir William Curtis's or Artemus Ward's way of
spelling “all correct”).
We had a long thread on this quite a while ago. The above is of course a hundred years old.
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#76756
07/23/2002 3:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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By far too lazy to liu today, what, pray tell, dear Dr. Bill, is a tam?
We've had favorite word threads here over the many 2.5 years of AWAD, and, surprisingly enough, I don't believe tam-o'-shanter has been included. Too bad. It should have been. Along with bellyouth's chawbacon! Somehow those two words in close proximity--Tam-O'-Shanter Chawbacon--jar, don't they?
Beauteous regards,
Word-o'-Wonderer
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#76757
07/23/2002 3:51 PM
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Oaf A corruption of ouph (elf). A foolish child or dolt is so called from the notion that all idiots are
changelings, left by the fairies in the place of the stolen ones.
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#76758
07/23/2002 3:53 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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I see this is a monologue, Dr Bill, but I'll try to stick my 2c worth in, as Napier and Maverick have done: People don't speak "Scotch." They drink it. If you were replying to our intromissions, so to speak, I'd ask you what you were quoting from. 
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#76761
07/23/2002 3:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Come on, Bill, monologue or not, as AnnaS pointed out, please return to the tam and tell me what it was or is.
A tam-o'-shanter looks a lot like a beret. Which came first? The tam or the beret?
You know, you don't exactly own this thread! We've still gots curiosties among us, don't you realize?
Best regards,
WordWoe
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#76762
07/23/2002 4:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Dear WW: all of these entries are taken from Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Over a hundred years old, but many of the etymolgies give would be hard to find elsewhere. I have been disappointed that there have been so few comments, which are most welcome. Sorry you felt otherwise. Did you hear about the scot who on his way home late from the bar lost his tam in a cow pasture and had to try on several before he found one that fitted? http://www.bootlegbooks.com/Reference/PhraseAndFable/data/115.html
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#76763
07/23/2002 4:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Tam? Cow pies? Ha! Thanks for that little joke. Ya' think the French have the same tale?
Here in Virginia we have cow-pie-pitching contests. Seems a pretty stupid way to spend time, but to each his own.
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