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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Pardon, my dear Tony, but something being transferred of animials didn't make enough sense for me. Very little of what is quoted from the OED ever makes any sense to me. Besides, I didn't disagree with you, now, did I? 
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
...and what is it, do you suppose, that animals would be grubbing in the earth for, normally?
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
My understanding of the term grub-stake (based on spending too many early teen-age years reading Zane Grey novels - perhaps not the best source) is that it covered not just the food but the tools, tents and other stuff that the prospecters needed. In effect the provider of the stake was investing in the venture and the prospecter (or, disparagingly, grubber)was the one who would be grubbing around for the gold. Hence the grub-stake. Since then its generally accepted application has been restricted to food.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
...and what is it, do you suppose, that animals would be grubbing in the earth for, normally?
It was the of that confused me. Or possibly there was a period missing. Transferred from animals would have done. Or, if there had been a period or other punctuation after the word transferred, in the use of grub in this sense predates "grub stake" by about 200 years and probably (reading between the lines here) stems from the use of the verb grub as transferred Of animals: To root, search for something in the earth, etc. , then it would have made sense to me.
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
sorry J., I thought the change of color would suffice.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
'S'all right--we can't all be idiots. Always happy to fill a niche! 
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
So would that be a grub steak?
TEd
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 833
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 833 |
So would that be a grub steak?
I'm tempted to say yes, but I wouldn't stake my life on my answer being right....
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