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Speaking of words derived from the world of sailing, I can think of crow's nest, which was so named because sailors stationed birds which would spot land from a distance, and the land lubbers that they were, would fly in the direction and the sailors would just have to follow them for directions.
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Carpal Tunnel
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That's interesting. Never new that, yet grown up in a seafaring country and harbour city. I always thought it was the sailors who were on the look out for coastal birds, but then it's just the other way around. Funny.
Is Trident for Neptunus or is it a river in Westeros?
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Merriam-Webster dates the phrase to 1818. Most websites that tell this story trace the practice to Norsemen (Vikings). Seems like a rather large gap in time.
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Carpal Tunnel
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OED actually cites it later: 1939 S. CHAMBERLAIN Nantucket 25 Variously termed a ‘Captain's Walk’, or the ‘*Widow's Walk’, it is just ‘The Walk’ in Nantucket.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Captain's Walk
I've also seen it paired with belvedere and catwalk, though the latter is something I associate with theaters and not rooftops.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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OED actually cites it later: 1939 S. CHAMBERLAIN Nantucket 25 Variously termed a ‘Captain's Walk’, or the ‘*Widow's Walk’, it is just ‘The Walk’ in Nantucket. Umm... Despite the title, the original post and the first two replies are actually about "crow's nest" not "widow's walk".
Last edited by Myridon; 06/27/08 10:38 PM.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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ah.. then,
2. Naut. A barrel or cylindrical box fixed to the mast-head of an arctic, whaling or other ship, as a shelter for the look-out man.
1818 Blackw. Mag. IV. 343 The Crows-Nest is..generally a cask, fixed near the mast-head, to protect the observer from cold, and enable him to look out for whales, or open pieces of water.
but,
1. Mil. ? A fort placed on a height. Obs.
1604 E. GRIMSTONE Hist. Siege Ostend 163, 2 Frenchmen..fled unto the enemies to the crowes neast.
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Carpal Tunnel
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my building (one of 6 identical hi rise apartment buildings) has cat walks.
Every apartment in the building has a terrace (a covered out door "room"--(terrace is NYC term, balcony is perhaps more common)
the elevator comes up to a small hall (about 8 by 20)
it holds the elevators, an entry to stailwell, the 'garbage shut room) 2 apartment doors, and 2 exits.
the exits open to (covered but open) cat walks.
from these catwalks there are entries to smaller 'halls" --my apartment has a hall about 4 by 6 (feet) (1.3 by 1.9meters)
there is an entry door, and 3 apartment doors.
Out door 'halls'(cat walks) like this are pretty common at motels, (and they are not uncommon in NYC in middle class housing from late 1950 to early 1970's.. (they were popular for a time.. its passed)
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Carpal Tunnel
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termed a ‘Captain's Walk’, or the ‘*Widow's Walk’, it is just ‘The Walk’ in Nantucket. When you look at the houses it's clear why it is also called 'Captain ' s' walk. The common sailor's wife would stand on rocks, dune or beach to do her expecting and mourning.
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Neptunus is perhaps more appropriate here.
