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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 1 of 2 1 2 #204406 - 01/28/12 03:56 PM Attention: Candy   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Jackie Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 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? #204409 - 01/28/12 09:34 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Rhubarb Commando old hand Rhubarb Commando   old hand Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 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 #204412 - 01/29/12 02:09 AM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Jackie Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Interesting; thanks. #204413 - 01/29/12 02:04 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 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) #204414 - 01/29/12 02:10 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: BranShea]   Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 Rhubarb Commando old hand Rhubarb Commando   old hand Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,075 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 #204415 - 01/29/12 02:34 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Rhubarb Commando]   Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague I'm sure many of the traders and common sailors slipped a few unaccounted for corns into their pockets. #204427 - 01/30/12 04:01 AM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Jackie Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Didn't their sneezing then give them away? #204431 - 01/30/12 11:17 AM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 19 HalAl stranger HalAl   stranger Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 19 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! #204448 - 01/31/12 02:27 AM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Jackie Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Oh man, what is the name of that chemical in onions? I was just trying to think of it the other day. #204456 - 01/31/12 07:17 PM Re: Attention: Candy [Re: Jackie]   Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Sulphur. Compound of the whole Genus Allium. Antidiabolic, antivampiric, antianything that isn't good for your health. Link Page 1 of 2 1 2 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. 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