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#117581 12/13/03 02:13 AM
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Jackie Offline OP
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I was rather amused when I read this travel tip for visiting a certain country:
"Customs: Usually, foreigners arriving ... don't face hassles over customs clearance. But upon your entry to the country you might be asked if you have anything to declare. That would mean, some electrical appliances and alcohol. They should let you through with the less fangled appliances and a maximum of four litres of alcohol."


#117582 12/13/03 02:35 AM
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Many countries have a electric power supply that differs from ours. An American appliance designed for 110v,60Hz,
plugged into 220v50Hz could be dangerous.

#117583 12/13/03 05:00 AM
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[fangle (n) and fangle (v)] app. arose from a mistaken analysis of NEWFANGLED, later form of newfangle ‘eager for novelty’. As newfangled was said both of persons and of their actions or productions, it came to be diversely interpreted to mean either ‘characterized by new fashions or crotchets’ or ‘newly fashioned or fabricated’. thus spake OED2.

hence, less fangled would be less so..


#117584 12/14/03 02:52 AM
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Jackie Offline OP
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So, apparently, old appliances would be ok? And what's a crotchet? (And don't tell me to look in the mirror!)
Also--surely fangle is not a verb, nowadays?


#117585 12/14/03 01:22 PM
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wwh Offline
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crotchet
n 1: a sharp curve or crook; a shape resembling a hook [syn: hook]
2: a musical note having the time value of a quarter of a whole
note [syn: quarter note]
3: a strange attitude or habit [syn: oddity, queerness, quirk,
quirkiness]
4: a small tool or hook-like implement



#117586 12/14/03 03:23 PM
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here's something that almost fits:
9b. A fanciful device, mechanical, artistic, or literary.



#117587 12/14/03 03:57 PM
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Jackie Offline OP
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a musical note having the time value of a quarter of a whole
note [syn: quarter note]

You gotta be kiddin' me! How did this come to be, pray tell? Eta, have you ever heard of a quarter-note being called a crotchet? Faldage?


#117588 12/14/03 04:48 PM
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yup. crotchet and quaver, and hemi-demi-semiquaver. them's across the water calls 'em that. I use them to make my students feel glad we call them quarter notes...




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#117589 12/15/03 08:50 AM
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dxb Offline
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them's across the water calls 'em that

It's true, it's true. At least, it was what I was drug up calling them. Nowadays, who knows what they call them, there is so much cross-contamination ....


#117590 12/15/03 03:20 PM
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Jackie Offline OP
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cross-contamination .... !?!? Watch it, Bub!


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