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Page 1 of 2 1 2 > Topic Options #204406 - 01/28/12 10:56 AM Attention: Candy Jackie Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 11613 Loc: Louisville, Kentucky I just got an e-mail from an Aussie friend, who said he'll be renting his house at a "peppercorn rate". I think he meant cheaply, but where did this expression come from, do you know? Top #204409 - 01/28/12 04:34 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie] Rhubarb Commando old hand Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 1075 Loc: Lancaster, UK Yep - in the Middle Ages in Britain, pepper was actually quite an expensive spice. However, to pay just one pepper corn (from which pepper is ground) was still a lot less than most rents, so the lease or agreement drawn up between friends, with one making a gift to the other for whatever reason, but to make it a truly legal contract, the rent was one pepper corn per year. Other commodities were used, as well, for the same reason, to ake a contract legally binding. _________________________ I'm immortal until proven otherwise Top #204412 - 01/28/12 09:09 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie] Jackie Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 11613 Loc: Louisville, Kentucky Interesting; thanks. Top #204413 - 01/29/12 09:04 AM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie] BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 5295 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague Peppercorn price. We still have standing expressions such as 'for a peppered price' or 'as expensive as pepper', meaning really extra expensive. (no mention of a single corn saying) Top #204414 - 01/29/12 09:10 AM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: BranShea] Rhubarb Commando old hand Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 1075 Loc: Lancaster, UK Makes sense, Bran - in the C17 and C18, the Dutch were the main importers of spices from their connections in the East Indies and other places in the Far East. _________________________ I'm immortal until proven otherwise Top #204415 - 01/29/12 09:34 AM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Rhubarb Commando] BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 5295 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague I'm sure many of the traders and common sailors slipped a few unaccounted for corns into their pockets. Top #204427 - 01/29/12 11:01 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie] Jackie Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 11613 Loc: Louisville, Kentucky Didn't their sneezing then give them away? Top #204431 - 01/30/12 06:17 AM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie] HalAl stranger Registered: 03/22/04 Posts: 19 Loc: Central Indiana Originally Posted By: Jackie Didn't their sneezing then give them away? Until ground it's not likely a problem. Like an onion that's perfectly fine until you start to peel or slice it, then, WAAAAAAHHHHHH! Top #204448 - 01/30/12 09:27 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie] Jackie Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 11613 Loc: Louisville, Kentucky Oh man, what is the name of that chemical in onions? I was just trying to think of it the other day. Top #204456 - 01/31/12 02:17 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie] BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 5295 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague Sulphur. Compound of the whole Genus Allium. Antidiabolic, antivampiric, antianything that isn't good for your health. 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