Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#115432 11/07/03 09:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
I looked up the etymology because I had not idea as to its origin. The "Rover Boys" presumably liked to be constantly on the move, though with no particular destination in mind,just looking for adventure. But no piratical motives, as suggested by last line of definition and etymology.

rover1 ['rəʊvə]
noun
1 a person who roves; wanderer

2 (Archery) a mark selected at random for use as a target

3 (Croquet) a ball that has been driven through all the hoops but has not yet hit the winning peg

4 (Australian Rules football) one of the three players in the ruck, usually smaller than the other two, selected for his agility in play
[ETYMOLOGY: 15th Century: from rove1]


rover2 ['rəʊvə]
noun a pirate or pirate ship
[ETYMOLOGY: 14th Century: probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German, from roven to rob]




#115433 11/08/03 01:36 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
players in the ruck,
What's a ruck?


#115434 11/08/03 01:46 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
What's a ruck?

hey, Scooby-Doo!



formerly known as etaoin...
#115435 11/08/03 02:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
ruck1 [rʌk]
noun
1 a large number or quantity; mass, esp. of ordinary or undistinguished people or things

2 (in a race) a group of competitors who are well behind the leaders at the finish

3 (Rugby) a loose scrum that forms around the ball when it is on the ground

4 (Australian Rules football) the three players, two ruckmen and a rover, that do not have fixed positions but follow the ball closely
verb
5 [intransitive]
(Rugby) to try to win the ball by mauling and scrummaging
[ETYMOLOGY: C13 (meaning ``heap of firewood''): perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse hraukr rick1]


ruck2 [rʌk]
noun
1 a wrinkle, crease, or fold
verb
2 [usually foll by up] to become or make wrinkled, creased, or puckered
[ETYMOLOGY: 18th Century: from Scandinavian; related to Old Norse hrukka]


ruck3 [rʌk]
noun (prison slang)
a fight
[ETYMOLOGY: 20th Century: short for ruckus]




#115436 11/08/03 02:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Thanks, Dr. Bill, although these bring up more thoughts. I was pleased to see that Gurunet says scrummage (man, that sounds SO odd! [poking the borax e]) is an Alteration of SCRIMMAGE. I don't think we ever say scrim. But at least I now know that ruckmen follow the ball, though I am no closer to knowing the origin of the word.


#115437 11/08/03 03:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
ruck - rick
scrum - scrim...

though looking up scrim brings up the theatre curtain def. this site has a ton of info:
http://poets.notredame.ac.jp/cgi-bin/wn?cmd=wn&word=scrim



formerly known as etaoin...

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
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