|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609
addict
|
addict
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609 |
Defenestration of Prague: That was how I first heard of the word. I thought it refered to the "taking out of windows", probably as a response to a Window Tax as UK had. Only later did I learn the true story.
There have actually been several defenestrations in Prague. The "First" was in about 1420 when 5 or so guys got thrown out and killed. The "Second" was in about 1620 when some Bohemian (as opposed to bohemian) nobles threw the Hapsburg Emperor's representatives out of the window of the castle in Prague (Hradcny ? may have spelt that wrong). They weren't hurt apparently but the Emperor was upset and the 30 Years War ensued (1620-1650ish).
There have been other defenestrations in Prague since then but usually on an individual basis and claimed as suicide by the authorities.
Rod
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Go to almost any brick and mortar workplace and you will find plenty people orking cows.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
I agree that defenestrate out the window would be redundant, but I cannot agree that it would be egregious, not with the state of the herd these days. It would be, unfortunately, only too gregious.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Extending our realm from the ovine to the bovine, are we, Faldage? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Ain' jus cows herd, AnnaS.
Buffalo, fer example. Herd of 'em?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
|
|
veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
Defenestration of Prague
One of the others since 1620 was that of Jan Masaryk, premier of the short-lived republic, who was officially called a suicide, but most people know better that he was got out of the way.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
"Adfenestration & defenestration" in Miller's Tale
Dear Bob: wouldn't "exfenestration" be closer?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Dr. Bill asks: wouldn't "exfenestration" be closer?Naw! defenestration is perfectly fine. http://www.bartleby.com/61/8/D0050800.html
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
took me a while to dig this out again:
ADFENESTRATE ad finis trait verb "to sneak through a window" (Koster). Compare antonym DEFENESTRATE Two hours before dawn members of the Acción Dinámica adfenestrated themselves into the palace. Koster, The Prince, p. 32. from Pete Saussy's LOGODAEDALIAN'S Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Words
I subsequently used adfenestration as a wwftd; now as it happens, Pete is on my subscription list and he forwards the mailings to several interested parties, one of which is Mr. Koster. the following exchange of e-mails ensued (word cafefully chosen for punish quotient):
>> Pete,
>>
>> That's my word, but unless someone else has been using it, it only exists
>> as a verb.
>>
>> Best,
>> Dick Koster
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> At 01:23 PM 12/3/98 -0500, you wrote:
>> >think "not Prague"
>> >
>> >the worthless word for the day is: adfenestration
>> >
>> >choose one:
>> > a) the arrangement, proportioning, and design of windows/doors in a =
>> building
>> > b) a throwing of a person or thing out of a window
>> > c) the (surreptitious?) act of entering through a window
>> >
>> > -tsuwm http://members.aol.com/tsuwm/
>
>Mr. Koster,
>
>well, consider your verb to have been "nouned"; I wanted to pair it up
>with defenestration. here's my lawyer's address:
>
> HiramCheep@pettifoggers.com
>
>-m.a.fischer
>
>
>p.s. - as the owner of this word, perhaps you could enlighten me as to
whether
> the "surreptitious" element is implied.
>
Mr. Fischer,
The context is as follows: Circa 1930, an ambitious fellow is invited to a
soiree at the presidential palace in the Republic of Tinieblas. He wanders
off and unlocks a window. Around 4:00 a.m. he and a bunch of resolutes he
has sharked up adfenestrate themselves into the building and expell the
incumbent.
Best,
R.M. Koster
P.S. My attorneys, Paine and Durance, eat attorneys like yours for breakfast.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
unless someone else has been using it, it only exists as a verb.
Seems only fair, since defenestrate was a back-formation from defenestration.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,367
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
581
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
