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 6 of 12 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 11 12
#12349 12/18/00 02:34 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
>Hmmmm, I seem to recall someone in a previous thread saying that the extras usually said Rhubarb Rhubarb Rhubard.

yup, that was *this thread, with several variations, many moons ago. : )


#12350 12/18/00 05:00 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
In reply to:

wallah is a parsee(?) term for 'by occupation'


The Parsees are a religious grouping rather than a linguistic one. They are the last remnants of the religion revealed to the human race by Zoroaster at(according to who you believe) the end of the 2nd millennium BCE or in the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. (Fortunately whether millennia begin or end in the year ending 00 is irrelevant here.) In a later form, which spread throughout the Roman Empire, it is called Mithraism, and the birthday of Mithras (as the Sun in one of his manifestations) was celebrated on Dec. 25th, hence the timing of our jollifications next week. After the fall of the Sassanid empire, some Persians fled to India where they preserved the old beliefs and the scriptures in Avestan, but for every day purposes use the language of their neighbours.

Bingley



Bingley
#12351 12/18/00 05:58 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Bingley said: The Parsees are a religious grouping rather than a linguistic one

I thought that was the case, which is why the question mark. The reason I "guessed" Parsee was that I read a book by a Parsee woman called Bhapsi Sidhwa a number of years ago which took a long, hard and humorous look at being a Parsee - without explaining exactly what a Parsee is. Her chief character was Freddy Faredoon Junglewallah (amazing memory for the important things, don't I? Not.). Almost all of the males in the book had -wallah as part of their name. Could have been tongue in cheek, as most of the book was.

Anyway, in retrospect I prefer the Oz connection. Come in, ringer!



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#12352 12/18/00 10:18 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
P
addict
Offline
addict
P
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
CapK: Indeed, there is an Aussie town called Walla Walla; it's in New South Wales and its postcode is 2659. In fact it must be close to Wagga Wagga which has a 2650 postcode and the Waugh brothers [non-cricketers, disregard].


#12353 12/18/00 11:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
paulb responds: CapK: Indeed, there is an Aussie town called Walla Walla; it's in New South Wales and its postcode is 2659. In fact it must be close to Wagga Wagga which has a 2650 postcode and the Waugh brothers [non-cricketers, disregard].

Well, from a purely parochial perspective, have the place razed while they are visiting their folks. Please.



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#12354 12/18/00 06:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Ongoing discussion of towns named Walla Walla.

The Walla Walla, Wash mentioned in the Christmas lyrics thread (http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=wordplay&Number=11017&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5) is a city in the state of Washington, USA. Walla Walla is a Native American name for "many rivers."


#12355 12/18/00 07:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
and is famous for onions-- almost as good as vadalias-- and later in the season..


#12356 12/18/00 09:32 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
J
old hand
Offline
old hand
J
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
Walla, Walla

Yes, Walla Walla is a city in Washington south of Spokane near the Oregon border. It's probably most famous for being used by Daffy Duck in the name of his sales company.


#12357 12/19/00 08:04 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
R
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
R
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
And I had always thought, 'til now, that "Walla, walla . . ." were the opening words of that grand old Tommy Steele song, "Singin' the blues."



#12358 12/19/00 10:14 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
P
addict
Offline
addict
P
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
Thanks, Faldage. Perhaps Wagga Wagga is the town of "many runs", eh, Capk? 13 on the trot, now [non-cricketers, disregard]


Page 6 of 12 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 11 12

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 (), 435 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