Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#94452 02/03/03 06:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
S
enthusiast
OP Offline
enthusiast
S
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
Here's a word I hadn't heard of, but one that might be useful--a sub-heading under spin, maybe?

http://www.quinion.com/words/turnsofphrase/tp-pre2.htm


#94453 02/03/03 07:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear slithy: now that we know what a "prebuttal" is, what's a "buttal"?


#94454 02/03/03 08:55 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Is actually a verb -- they guy who committed the crime always puts the serving tray together prior to the scene in which he's caught out. Hence he prebuttals the wine.





TEd
#94455 02/03/03 09:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 508
N
addict
Offline
addict
N
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 508
Since he gets caught in the end, perhaps that should be "prebuttals the whine?" Just asking


#94456 02/03/03 09:09 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,549
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,549
Likes: 1
he prebuttals the wine

Not so far-fetched, that one. Isn't there a proverbial "butt of Malmsley"? I don't think that was simply to object of his jokes.


#94457 02/03/03 09:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,549
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,549
Likes: 1
he prebuttals the wine

Not so far-fetched, that one. Isn't there a proverbial "butt of Malmsey"? I don't think that was simply to object of his jokes.

[Edit: Sure there is. See http://www.bartleby.com/81/5386.html. (Now where's that list of old measures of volume? the Tun, the Magnum, the Hogshead, the Jereboam, and all those)]

#94458 02/03/03 10:12 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Wasn't one of the less popular Plantagenet kings drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine? Probably an Edward. Oh, all right then, maybe a Richard. No, an Edward, I think. IV or thereabouts.

- Pfranz

#94459 02/03/03 10:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.


Drowned in a Butt of Malmsey.

George, Duke of Clarence, being allowed to choose by what death he would die, chose
drowning in malmsey wine (1477). See the continuation of Monstrelet, 196; Fulgosus, ix. 12;
Martin du Bellais’s Memoirs (year 1514).
1
Admitting this legend to be an historic fact, it is not unique: Michael Harslob, of Berlin, wished
to meet death in a similar way in 1571, if we may credit the inscription on his tomb:—

“In cyatho vini pleno cum musca periret,
Sic, ait Oeneus, sponte perire velim.”
“When in a cup of wine a fly was drowned,
So, said Vinarius, may my days be crowned.”


2






#94460 02/04/03 12:54 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,549
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,549
Likes: 1
Bartleby agrees. See above.


Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pick, pick, pick. It was Richard III's brother, the Duke of Clarence. Well, at least I got the period right. Edward IV reigned from 1461-70 and from 1471-83!

- Pfranz

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,351
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 775 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,549
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,918
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