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#66460 04/20/02 08:35 AM
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wwh wrote: I am astounded that after going to Sunday school only until my voice changed and I got kicked out of the choir, I remember so clearly ...
When my voice broke, they kept me on as a teacher and invited me to join the choir... (takes all sorts...)
That's probably why when I saw the question about a watchword, I couldn't help recalling one of Henry Alford's hymns, starts with--
Forward! be our watchword,
Steps and voices joined;
Seek the things before us,
Not a look behind.
I often wondered how we'd manage with our voice joined to our legs. Probably better if we didn't look behind.



#66461 04/20/02 12:52 PM
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isn't a watch word, a code word? as you go on patol, or watch, you are told the word of the day. when you detect an intruder, to tell friend from foe-- you ask him the watch word..

I believe that's a password. An old story from WWII what that the Allied forces in the Pacific would pick a password like lallapalooza because it was impossible for most Japanese to produce the <l> sound.

Or was that wordapalooza?



#66462 04/20/02 02:41 PM
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I just knew there wouldn't be a consensus on this one. : )

here's the current state:
watchword \-werd\ noun (15c)
1 : a word or phrase used as a sign of recognition among members of the same society, class, or group
2 a : a word or motto that embodies a principle or guide to action of an individual or group : slogan <safety is our watchword>
b : a guiding principle <change is the watchword for both parties>

(C) 1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

thus, floccinaucinihilipilification is the wwftd watchword.

now, for the rest of the story...

watchword started out with a military sense of, wait for it... password (C 15); later it became the call of a sentinel on his rounds (C 17) or a signal to begin an attack (C 16). Shakespeare transferred this latter sense thus: Which gives the watch word to his hand ful soon, To draw the clowd that hides the silver Moon.
Subsequently it began to be used as in senses 1 and 2 above.
One other, now obsolete, use was as a cautionary word or warning event.

()

#66463 04/20/02 03:43 PM
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Jackie Offline OP
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I just knew there wouldn't be a consensus on this one. : )
I knew it too, tsweet tsuwm! That's why I asked, tshe tsaid. : ) Hmm--reckon if I had a personal watchword, it might be love.

maverick, was that an example of that famous irony, in your post?


#66464 04/21/02 12:25 AM
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"Good that the world is a better place nowadays, eh Bill? No-one would dream of going to war in the Middle East over trivial little differences that mean bugger-all to other citizens of the world."

Dear mav: Jackie cannot be the only one in doubt as to your meaning. Little differences like murdering three thousand civilians, and planning to do it again and again is not my idea of a trivial little difference, and it means a hell of a lot more than bugger-all to other citizens of the world. UK targets were next. They might even have inconvenienced you slightly, mav.


#66465 04/21/02 05:25 AM
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