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Considering the nature of my post one might judge it a rather inauspicious foray at the heart of this group. What the Hades, right?  Hello! I read recently that the term "pure" was used in Victorian England to describe dog turds. Does anyone know of it's usage anywhere? For that matter does anyone know of a book that collects Victorian slang? N. Otter.
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Nightotter. Hello! Cute picture! By pure chance I recently bought a little book: 'The vulgar Tongue.' (subtitel :Buckish Slang and Pickpocket Eloquence) by Francis Grose, published 1785. Pure coincidence. In this dictionary I found under the word PURE : 'A harlot, or lady of easy virtue'. (!) Quick conclusion is that over the following centuries, the word step by step has been lowered to ground level. In the times of the French revolution it still had legs to go on. The Victorians sent it to its final resting place.  But maybe there is more to it.  Jackie always says 'Welcome' but while she is sleeping I'll take the liberty to do so. 'Welcome!'
Last edited by BranShea; 02/11/07 10:51 AM.
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Quote:
In this dictionary I found under the word PURE : 'A harlot, or lady of easy virtue'. (!)
Puts a whole new spin on that line from Nessun dorma - "tu pure, o principessa". 
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Quote:
Puts a whole new spin on that line from Nessun dorma - "tu pure, o principessa".
Dunno that I'd be listening to anyone says you can't sleep on Sunday.
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Quote:
Quote:
Puts a whole new spin on that line from Nessun dorma - "tu pure, o principessa".
Dunno that I'd be listening to anyone says you can't sleep on Sunday.
I don't know about it saying you can't sleep on Sunday, but I've often heard sung by Sunday.
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not necessarily slang, but period usage..
5. [Cf. PURE v. 1b.] Tanning. Dogs' dung or other substance used as an alkaline lye for steeping hides. Also in Comb. as pure-collector, -finder, -finding. (Also spelt pewer, puer.)
1845 G. DODD Brit. Manuf. V. ix. 189 A solution called the ‘pure’ or the ‘pewer’ is prepared in a large vessel, and into this the skins are immersed. 1851 MAYHEW Lond. Labour II. 142 Dogs'-dung is called ‘Pure’, from its cleansing and purifying properties. Ibid., The name of ‘Pure-finders’..has been applied to the men engaged in collecting dogs'-dung from the..streets. Ibid., There are about 30 tanyards..and these all have their regular Pure collectors. 1858 SIMMONDS Dict. Trade, Puer, a tanner's name for dogs' dung. Ibid., Pure, Pewer. 1946 Thorpe's Dict. Appl. Chem. (ed. 4) VII. 264/2 Modern artificial bates have replaced almost completely the older ‘dung bate’ or puer, an infusion of dog- or, less often, pigeon-dung. -OED2
Last edited by tsuwm; 02/11/07 08:07 PM.
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Puts a whole new spin on that line from Nessun dorma - "tu pure, o principessa".
Dunno that I'd be listening to anyone says you can't sleep on Sunday.
I don't know about it saying you can't sleep on Sunday, but I've often heard sung by Sunday.
C'mon. Ne = not; Sun = Sunday; Dorma = sleep. It's as obvious as the face on your nose.
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Puts a whole new spin on that line from Nessun dorma - "tu pure, o principessa".
Dunno that I'd be listening to anyone says you can't sleep on Sunday.
I don't know about it saying you can't sleep on Sunday, but I've often heard sung by Sunday.
C'mon. Ne = not; Sun = Sunday; Dorma = sleep. It's as obvious as the face on your nose.
You're right. My excuse is that it's Monday here, and I got fixated on Placido Domingo.
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stranger
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Quote:
By pure chance I recently bought a little book: 'The vulgar Tongue.'
(subtitel :Buckish Slang and Pickpocket Eloquence) by Francis Grose, published 1785.
Looks like an interesting book BranShea and thank you for the welcome.
Quote:
*snip* Dogs'-dung is called ‘Pure’, from its cleansing and purifying properties. Ibid., The name of ‘Pure-finders’..has been applied to the men engaged in collecting dogs'-dung from the..streets. Ibid.,...
That about covers it.  The book I was reading indicated that people were employed to take care of dog droppings. The place was Lambeth Marsh in London. Pure-Finders in my neighborhood tend to be the owners these days.
N.O
p.s (edit) - owner? now that got me thinking (can you smell the burning). who would be the owner of a dog turd, the dog or it's master?
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Hey Nightotter; get your kicks on route sickly-six. And not on this forum where people care little about turds. 
Last edited by themilum; 02/12/07 03:14 AM.
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