"... the day we went to Bangor." - 06/23/03 10:42 AM
An audio tape that has eased my commute for a day or two is ‘A Month in the Country’ by JL Carr, admirably read by Michael Williams, late husband of Judy Dench. The book was a Booker Prize winner that deserved it but I only wanted to mention the use of a word that I haven’t heard since … I don’t when.
Charabanc:
NOUN: Chiefly British. A large bus, typically used for sightseeing.
ETYMOLOGY: From French char à bancs : char, coach, carriage (from Old French, cart; see chariot) + à, with (from Latin ad, toward; see ad–) + bancs, benches, pl. of banc (from Old French; see bank3).
The word brings back a vanished world of day-trippers off to the nearest seaside resort for a good time. Such trips were often ‘works outings’, organised and paid for by factory managers and families were usually included in the invitation. There would usually be more than one charabac involved in the trip and the drivers, encouraged by their passengers, would vie with one another to get there first.
Charabanc:
NOUN: Chiefly British. A large bus, typically used for sightseeing.
ETYMOLOGY: From French char à bancs : char, coach, carriage (from Old French, cart; see chariot) + à, with (from Latin ad, toward; see ad–) + bancs, benches, pl. of banc (from Old French; see bank3).
The word brings back a vanished world of day-trippers off to the nearest seaside resort for a good time. Such trips were often ‘works outings’, organised and paid for by factory managers and families were usually included in the invitation. There would usually be more than one charabac involved in the trip and the drivers, encouraged by their passengers, would vie with one another to get there first.
