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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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May (the month) is not derived from Maia, the mother of Mercury, as the word existed long before either
Mercury or Maia had been introduced. It is the Latin Maius- i.e. Magius, from the root mag, same as the
Sanscrit mah, to grow; and means the growing or shooting month.
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old hand
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old hand
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> “Pale malle is a game wherein a round boxball is struck with a mallet through a high arch of
iron. He that can do this most frequently wins.”
I only read about this a few days ago - I hear it's of Scottish tradition. Anyone ever seen it played? Sounds a little like hurling, not that I know the game well. Re. the pronunciation: I've only ever heard it pronounced one of two ways; either 'paul-maul', or 'pal-mal' (with pal said pretty much like the dog food).
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addict
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addict
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I remember being told when i was in highschool, it was always pronounced "pell mell" Is this still true?
Bill, I have never heard it pronounced anyway but 'Paul Maul' or 'Pal Mal' or simply 'The Mall'.
The Flashman books by George MacDonald Fraser is a very good source for Victorian history and even the pronunciation of words at the time. Mr. Fraser is meticulous with his reseach.
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veteran
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either 'paul-maul', or 'pal-mal' (with pal said pretty much like the dog food)Just realised I didn't clarify - the English (as far as I'm aware) never use any pronunciation other than Pal Mal (with the "a" as in apple). It's yet another of those odd English (English) pronunciations that helps us tell locals from invaders  within the time it takes to say a sentence. Sussex (where I live) is absolutely full of place names like that. I'd therefore recommend that none of you say Paul Maul when you're in England or playing English (English) Monopoly - unless you're doing an intentional wind-up. Weren't there "Pall Mall" cigarettes once upon a time?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Pall Mall cigarettes had a significant market share in WWII. They were longer than regulars by almost an inch, and the ads showed a fighter pilot holding up a Pall Mall beside a brand X one. New Yorker magazine carried a cartoon showing Hermann Goering holding a long and a short cigarette side by side, and saying to Hitler:"This means something to US Air Force, but we can't figure out what." My dictionary gives "pell-mell" = in wild, disorderly haste . You may rely on it, no American lexicographer invented that pronunciation. Here's a URL about it. Says it originated in France. So Paille Maille" got pronounced "pell-mell". http://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Croquet.htm
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veteran
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Pall Mall cigarettes
So how was that Pall Mall pronounced, Bill?
Pal-Mal, Pel-Mel or Paul-Maul ?
Paille Maille
I'd imagine this would be pronounced Pie Mie(roughly) if it follows modern French pronunciation. Interesting point: quite often when French words have been anglicized they have ended up being pronounced as they are spelt rather than how they used to be said by the French. There's a very common phrase that (errm) fails to spring to mind (will try to recall), but Cinque Ports became "sink ports", for instance. Pall Mall may have done something similar.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Paul Maul is pretty close to was cigarette name was pronounced. I'm still a bit
puzzled why it took so long to learn "Cigarettes are hazardous to your health".
I got the word from a classmate who was chest surgeon seeing many patients
with lung carcinoma. I quit in early fifties, thank goodness.My brother who smoked
about ten years longer than I did is now having moderately severe chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Mercia The eighth and last kingdom of the Heptarchy, between the Thames and the Humber. It was the
mere or boundary of the Anglo-Saxons and free Britons of Wales.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Meredith (Owen). The pseudonym of Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton, author of Chronicles and
Characters, in verse (1834). He became Lord Lytton (1873-1891).
It was a dark and stormy night........
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Merry The original meaning is not mirthful, but active, famous; hence gallant soldiers were called “merry
men;” favourable weather, “merry weather;” brisk wind, “a merry gale;” London was “merry London;”
England, “merry England;” Chaucer speaks of the “merry organ at the mass;” Jane Shore is called by
Pennant the “merry concubine of Edward IV.” (Anglo-Saxon, mara, illustrious, great, mighty, etc.). (See
Merry-Men .)
'Tis merry in hall, when beards wag all (2 Henry IV., act v. 3). It is a sure sign of mirth when the
beards of the guests shake with laughter.
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