|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
When I was about ten, a meddlesome adult told me that "blindman's bluff" should be
"blindman's buff.
The wordbook I am reading says "bluff" in seventeenth century mant "blindfod", and
that blinkers on horses were called "bluffs"
On the Internet, the two spellings are used to mean the same thing.
Have any of you got a theory to explain how "blindman's buff came into use?
Outside of just ignorance?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Fragonard did a painting sometime between 1775 and 1780, the English title of which is Blindman's Buff. Then there's this piece:
James Gillray (British, 1757–1815)
Blindmans Buff – or – Too Many for John Bull
Hand-colored etching, published by Hannah Humphrey, June 12, 1795
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
I'd never heard of the buff variant. It makes me think of nekkiditity.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear Soarteye: You've got it! Blindman's buff is the game played on a nudist colony!!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
It makes me think of nekkiditity.
What's with the extra syllable there, Sparteye?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Extra syllable is from fantasy of being groped in the game.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
I don't think Sparteye used an extra syllable.
Naked = nekkid (or however she spelled it)
noun form = nekkidity
Stupid --> noun form --> stupidity
I'd say she was on linguistically solid ground.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Look again, Dub. Nekkiditity.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Omigosh! Sparteye, that was a rather risqué spelling, wasn't it?
Thanks, Faldage, the ever-observant along with the ever-observant Miss Anna.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
Myself, I've never heard the bluff variety before.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
1 members (wofahulicodoc),
755
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
