Interestingly, the Swedish word to describe corny, provincial or even farcical comedy -- principally on the stage -- is 'buskis'. This must derive from buskin -- if so, an example of a word taking an opposite meaning through misunderstanding.
Another similar case in Swedish is the now antique word, 'fermitet' meaning speed. It derives from the first way of describing the zipper, imported by a Swedish-French businessman: 'le ferme-tout américain'.

Dear geraldkimbo: Good to have someone who knows Swedish words. I thought idea that Greek audiences had to look at footwear of actors to know what play was about was mildly amusing.

Paraphrasically, the Australian word to describe public performances (usually musical) by amateurs, in the hope that passers-by will give them money, is busking.

What does buskin mean anyway? Yeah, ICLIU but IRCBB

the Australian word

It seems to be more than just Australian as we use it, too.

So act that your principle of action might safely be made a
law for the whole world. -Immanuel Kant, philosopher
(1724-1804)
But if one does so on the Board, he acquires the title "Wormtongue".

<<So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.>>

A dictum for the middle classes and a con: what you wish on the rest and their beliefs so you can skin them alive. The under belly of the moral imperative: "So act that the principle of your action might make the whole world safe for skilling scheisters -- but if you are a skilling scheister, so act that the whole world might believe in moral imperatives." Kant forgot to add that when caught bottom feeding, make sure to wag your finger at the french fry chefs at your local McDonalds. Much as we all love Kant, his imperative is anything but.

Call us Anything You Like Except Unanimous.

Dear IP: I could never understand Kant. And I am unsure what you mean by "skilling scheisters". I see no way the lack of principles by shysters could safely be made law for the whole world.

<<I could never understand Kant...>>

Dear Doc,

Who could? A skilling scheister's just a scheister / Skilling is a scheister too / The thing I can't remember, / does he use one el or two?

As to the rest of it: As far as I can tell, Kant's moral imperative is a recitation of Jesus' golden rule. Only Kant tries to express it in terms permitted under a critique of reason, which limits claims of reason to make all sorts of statements about "the way things are." It occurs to me that the economics of criminal behavior require the majority of people in economic community maintain the concept of property. If we were *all* criminals, there would be no one to steal from. Con men need saps. Unproductive ventures, like the Mafia, in so far as they *are* unproductive, require the rest of us to be productive in order that they (the crooks) can accrue wealth. Most of the rest of us who are gainfully employed are so employed under conditions of duress. A part of that duress is real: don't work, don't eat. But the conditions giving rise to that particular equation (the left hand side, "don't work") are arrived at by some sort of agreement -- not of law, but of force. Kant's imperative asks us to behave in a way which may be contrary to our own interests as individuals. It is for the good of society. And society not only gives rise to the possibility of law, but of criminality. It is a good thing for con men, when most people behave as though they think Kant is on to something hot. Was Kant himself a con man? I don't know. He threw a splendid lunch, though.

I don't suppose that helps. Best I can do on a lark.

Fondest and warmest,
IP

Dear IP: "If we were *all* criminals, there would be no one to steal from. Con men need saps.

Remember, there is a pitiless hierarchy in the underworld. The Mafia takes "protection" money from the gamblers and con men, and liquidates intruders on their turf. Every bug has a bigger bug that jumps on him and bites him.

Dear IP: it just occujrred to me: a "skilling scheister" is a two-bit shyster.

Interestingly, the Swedish word to describe corny, provincial or even farcical comedy -- principally on the stage -- is 'buskis'. This must derive from buskin

Could it derive from bubkes, yiddish meaning (among other things) something absurd, foolish, nonsensical; e.g., "I'll sum up his idea in one words: bubkes!" There was of course a strong yiddish presence in the theater; indeed yiddish was, and still is, prominently used in Hollywood.

Anyone have sources on swedish etymology?