Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 9 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
K
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
K
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
'Mid Fantasi-astic images of terpsichorean beauties
en jete-ing and plie-ing in their hippopotatuti,
Many further inspirations I am tempted to educe
For the hippopoamusement of the hippopostaMuse,
But I fear 'twould be excessive, and that any further scrutiny
Would constitute incitement to a hippopotamutiny.



Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
The other interesting note on the Darwin page gives food for thought as to a possible explanation for our recent penchant for including hippos in our threads here:

"Hippos play an important role in the African ecosystem. Their dung feeds tiny water microorganisms, which in turn support a food chain of larger creatures. On land, their large bodies and grazing habits make trails that provide other animals with easy access to water holes. [Seaworld]"

Could they be stirring the pot? Fertilizing our poor, overworked little brains? Just a hippi thought. There certainly have been a wealth of posts recently! Ball's back in you're court, Dub Dub. See, Jazzo, what did I tell you? Food, sports and hippopotomi!


#5017 10/16/01 08:48 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296

#5018 10/16/01 12:14 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
P
addict
Offline
addict
P
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
and no-one yet has mentioned the theme song of hippopotami: -- "Mud, mud, glorious mud".

With acknowledgement to Flanders and Swann.


#5019 11/17/01 09:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
I read somewhere this week that a hippopotamus is more closely related to a pig than to a horse, which isn't electrifying news or surprising.

However, and more to the point, in reading over this thread and coming to Paulb's "Mud, mud, glorious mud" post above, I thought of a hippopotamud, which sounds like a hippodrome-sized pot of mud, say, one for the convivial pleasure of mud bathing with the thousands.

And what is the name of that now extinct cow in the cave drawings==the auroch something or other?


#5020 11/18/01 07:58 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409

#5021 11/18/01 02:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Max, I just tried the link, but the page is down. Hope it is, indeed, "temporarily unavailable." I'd like to read Caesar's description if it's there...


#5022 11/18/01 05:44 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
I just tried the link Max gave and it worked. In case you are still having trouble, here is Caesar's desceription from that site

"They are but a little less than Elephants in size, and are of the species, color, and form of a bull. Their strength is very great, and also their speed. They spare neither man nor beast that they see. They cannot be brought to endure the sight of men, nor be tamed, even when taken young. The people who take them in pitfalls assiduously destroy them; and young men harden themselves in this labour, and exercise themselves in this kind of chase; and those who have killed a great number - the horns being publicly exhibited in evidence of the fact - obtain great honour. The horns, in amplitude, shape and species, differ much from the horns of our oxen. They are much sought after; and after having been edged with silver at their mouths they are used for drinking vessels at great feasts."




#5023 11/18/01 05:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Thanks, Vernon...

It was worth the read to imagine those mouths of silver at the great feasts.

Best regards,
WW


#5024 11/18/01 06:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear MaxQ: I enjoyed the link, thank you. I wonder what the aurochs could find to graze on in the deep forests of ancient Germany. And it wasn't clear whether the aurochs were being killed for food, or because they were so dangerous. I wonder when sport first began. Of course it could have been a rite de passage before it degenerated into sport.


Page 9 of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,271
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (A C Bowden), 285 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,502
LukeJavan8 9,915
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5