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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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While on vacation I found an old book (printed in 1852) by Frances M. Whitcher called The Widow Bedott Papers. There are several words in the book that are used now but do not mean what the author is trying to say.
I'm not sure to what the autor refers to in the following two cases:
When the Widow Bedott has to go out she takes the time to put on her man-killer. Now this is a very down to earth book so it has nothing to do with sexy clothing. I'm assuming it is some sort of outerwear but have no clue.
Also, when she was traveling on a coach, she reached into her ridicule to pull out a poem she had written some time before. I thought it might be a purse but considering she was traveling for a while it could have been some sort of luggage.
I've looked in my trusty MW but couldn't find. Does anybody have any idea?
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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'ridicule' looks like a substitution for 'reticule' ~ is it part of an ironic or comic effect, Bel?
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
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ridicule is a perversion of réticule.
Dickens O. Twist, ‘Pockets, women's ridicules, houses, mailcoaches...,’ said Mr. Claypole.
there was also a cloak or tunic which was termed a "man-killer" because it was caught up quite high at the bottom.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
"Ridicule" could be a very gross mis-spelling of "reticule".
.
reticule < L reticulum, dim. of rete, net: see RETINA6
1 a woman‘s small handbag, orig. made of network and usually having a drawstring
2 RETICLE
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
OH-SO-FABULOUS 50'S STRAPLESS SARONG DRESS!! - HERE I AM
JUST BACK FROM MY CLOTHES HORSE ANONYMOUS MEETING READY
TO GIVE UP ANOTHER ITEM FROM MY CLOSET THAT, SADLY, HAS
GOTTEN TOO TIGHT-AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY...SO CHECK IT OUT! WE
ARE TALKING AN UNBELIEVABLY FABULOUS STRAPLESS SARONG FROM
THE 50'S!! YEAH-THE PICTURES LOOK OK, BUT WHEN YOU WEAR IT IT
IS A KNOCK-OUT! TRUST ME ON THIS ONE-TOTAL MAN-KILLER
MATERIAL HERE! IT IS STRAPLESS, WITH BONING IN THE SIDES FOR
SHAPE-AND THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE BUST FOR THE LOOK OF A
BULLET BRA! IT IS VERY STRAIGHT AND FITTED SARONG SKIRT WITH
CASCADING SWAG DOWN THE SIDE-FABULOUS!! IT ZIPS UP THE BACK,
IS MADE OF A HEAVY COTTON IN NAVY AND IVORY AND MEASURES AS
FOLLOWS:34/36 IN. BUST, 27 IN. WAIST, 38 IN. HIPS, 11 IN. FROM
TOP OF THE BUST TO WAIST, AND 30 IN. FROM WAIST TO HEM. IN
EXCELLENT CONDITION-THERE ARE A FEW PULLED THREADS AT THE
SEAM OF THE KICKPLEAT, AND A FEW SPOTS-HARD TO SEE DUE TO
THE PRINT, REALLY MINOR. THIS IS FABULOUS, AND OH-SO-SEXY! GET
IT NOW OR REGRET IT FOREVER!
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
Out of context a little, Bill, I do believe.
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
one might say, er, busting out of context.
but I wouldn't.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544 |
GET IT NOW OR REGRET IT FOREVER!
Sold! What do you want for it, Bill?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear CK & Hyla: Pity you had nothing more to contribute than some sneers at
what I found, when you could find nothing.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
I believe most of us know what "man-killer" means now, Dr Bill. The question is, what did it refer to in 1852?
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