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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 1 of 2 1 2 The windmills of my mind #39133 08/22/01 05:09 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta B Bingley OP Carpal Tunnel OP Bingley Carpal Tunnel B Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta I happened to use the word rota the other day, only to find that my interlocutor (a USn) had only the vaguest idea of what I meant. I then tried it out on a group of assorted Canadians and Australians to find that although they understood it, it was not the word they would use. Is its use confined to the UK? Bingley Bingley Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter #39134 08/22/01 06:50 AM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 3,409 M Max Quordlepleen Carpal Tunnel Max Quordlepleen Carpal Tunnel M Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 3,409 Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: The windmills of my mind #39135 08/22/01 06:59 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 315 Italy - Perugia is a town with... E emanuela enthusiast emanuela enthusiast E Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 315 Italy - Perugia is a town with... happened to use the word rota the other day, only to find that my interlocutor (a USn) had only the vaguest idea of what I meant I don't have even that. Just the title of the tread let me add that the Italian word ruota (rota in some dialects, and in an archaic form) means wheel. A related meaning was about a rotating device used in convents to connect the inside part with the rest of the world without seeing it, for example to receive food. It was used also to leave there the unwanted children. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: The windmills of my mind #39136 08/22/01 07:00 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 427 Spain Marianna addict Marianna addict Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 427 Spain I don't think I have ever heard "roster" in the UK, though I would know what it means if I heard it. "Rota" is a nice word for this meaning, I suppose it is related to the Latin rota, which means "wheel". Is this right? Edit-in: Manuela, a rota is, for example, a list of people that are taking turns doing something... Three of my neighbours have a rota system going to pick up their children from primary school. Each day, a different one does it, and they have a list of who is doing it when. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: The windmills of my mind #39137 08/22/01 11:09 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Bingley, are you saying you're an airhead? I don't think I'd ever heard this word before you used it, but it's easy to guess that it has something to do with rotate. The car-pooling example was helpful, thanks, Marianna. I looked up interlocutor, again to confirm my guess, since this word is also unfamiliar to me, and I like the idea of being the second def.: The performer in a minstrel show who is placed midway between the end men and engages in banter with them. (Atomica) And so, to bring in the other end: Max, I ain't never gwine give up my campaign against ain't! (Oh, I LOVE this place!) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: The windmills of my mind #39138 08/22/01 12:39 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 W wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel W Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 The only way I have ever seen the word;, it was in reference to a special Vatican group that considered divorce cases. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Fortuna rota volvitur #39139 08/22/01 01:11 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 I think I would understand this word in context but if'n you jus pulls it outta the blue and slaps it on the table it's gone get a big fat HUH? from an USn. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: The windmills of my rotating mind #39140 08/22/01 02:09 PM Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA W wow Carpal Tunnel wow Carpal Tunnel W Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA To Bostonian ears if you say rota, I will think of an automobile part or the Sacred Rota as wwh mentioned, or the thing where you learn by rote (repeating) depending on context.... However, seeeing it written, I'd think of a formal agreement to do something...and where I "learned" the latter I'll never know! So now I know better ... an agreement to alternate performance of a task...Learn something new every day! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: The windmills of my mind #39141 08/22/01 02:36 PM Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 5,400 rego park of troy Carpal Tunnel of troy Carpal Tunnel Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 5,400 rego park Like others, i might in context pick up the meaning of rota-- but i don't think i have ever heard it. even roster is just a work word -- in terms of a car pool that mothers might set up, i think i would use schedule. i know i wouldn't use roster as a first choise word to describe a the workings of a car pool. my other obsession Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: The windmills of my mind #39142 08/22/01 03:11 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 W wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel W Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 And if you need to organize a rota, here's the site for you: Duty-Rota.com Your rotas & users Welcome Features Tutorial Mobile access Support Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter 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,... 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