Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#115426 11/07/03 04:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
David Copperfield speaks of his aunt's "drugget covered carpets".
Drugget
(n.) A coarse woolen cloth dyed of one color or printed on one side; generally used as a covering for carpets.
(n.) By extension, any material used for the same purpose.



#115427 12/27/03 11:46 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Did one drag out a drugget to protect the carpet beneath with an attractive disguise?

I've never heard of this kind of carpet. On a tour, however, of a local antebellum house, we heard about 'crumbcloths' that were used beneath dining room tables to protect the floors.


#115428 12/28/03 08:13 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,510
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,510
Likes: 1
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used the word, too, but his was placed directly on the floor.

There is a Sherlock Holmes story in which a bloodstain on the drugget had no matching stain on the floor beneath, and yet one was seen somewhere else, implying...

EDIT: see post below for additional details

#115429 12/29/03 03:36 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,510
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,510
Likes: 1
Bill found the very reference for me:

The Adventure of the Second Stain, online:

"...The room into which we were shown was that in which the crime had been committed, but no trace of it now remained save an ugly, irregular stain upon the carpet. This carpet was a small square drugget in the centre of the room...

Lestrade: "Well, you know, after a crime of this sort we are very careful to keep things in their position. Nothing has been moved... This carpet...it is not fastened down, only just laid there. We had occasion to raise it. We found...You see that stain on the carpet? Well, a great deal must have soaked through, must it not?"

Holmes: "Undoubtedly it must."

L: "Well, you will be surprised to hear that there is no stain on the white woodwork to correspond."

H: "But the under side is as stained as the upper. It must have left a mark."

L: "Now, I'll show you the explanation. There is a second stain, but it does not correspond with the other. See for yourself." As he spoke he turned over another portion of the carpet, and there, sure enough, was a great crimson spill upon the square white facing of the old-fashioned floor. "What do you make of that, Mr. Holmes?"

H: "Why, it is simple enough. The two stains did correspond, but the carpet has been turned round. As it was square and unfastened it was easily done..."

L: "And that means..."

But, dear reader, you must finish it for yourself. "Drugget" appears perhaps half-a-dozen times. The full text is at http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~KU5M-FJI/ret_sh13.txt
or, of course, in your library.

'..."We also have our diplomatic secrets," said Holmes and, picking up his hat, he turned to the door.'



Thanks again, Bill!


#115430 12/29/03 07:13 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004
...as I recall, there was a cherchez la femme element to this one, yes?


#115431 12/29/03 08:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,510
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,510
Likes: 1
Well, yes, but she was really a side issue. Indeed the cherchée-ee was not the perpetrator at all but rather another victim.

The complete story text is URLed above if you want to refresh your memory!



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 302 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5