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 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5
#98442 03/12/03 01:31 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Jackie Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
I used the term high-falutin' in a PM today, and suddenly wondered about it. A Search revealed that we haven't had a discussion about it, though Dr. Bill, bless him, gave the origin:
wwh
(Carpal Tunnel)
Sat Jul 6 12:39:04 2002
63.206.232.118
Re: Surprise IV

High falutin or Hifaluten. Tall talk. (Dutch, verlooten, high-flown, stilted.)

http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=75458

The term has only been used here 15 times, and 3 of those were an original and two copyings. There were a couple that had a g on the end of falutin', and at least one that didn't use a hyphen, but they were in essence all the same. Why don't we ever have a low-falutin' or just plain falutin'?



#98443 03/12/03 01:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Thank you for your kind words, Jackie. I had completely forgotten that thread. Come to think
of it though, I can't remember any other phrases given us by the Dutch, who gave us two
of our very best presidents. Incidentally, a prominent historian in an article in The Vocabula Review,
said Theodore Rossevelt was our best read President.


#98444 03/12/03 02:43 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
I love that word, especially in the Music Man, by Meredith Willson. In one song, the Irish mother is belittling Marion the Librarian's penchant for literature:

". . . like Balzac and Shakespeare and all them other high-falutin' Greeks!"

Thank you for the origin, Dr. Bill. I like to know those things.


#98445 03/12/03 02:45 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 725
I can't remember any other phrases given us by the Dutch

I believe our word boss came from Dutch. Any others off hand?


#98446 03/12/03 04:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
poppycock

Bingley


Bingley
#98447 03/12/03 08:31 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742
S
sjm Offline
old hand
Offline
old hand
S
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742
>I believe our word boss came from Dutch. Any others off hand?

Yacht.


#98448 03/12/03 11:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
It came through French to get here, but boulevard is from the Dutch.


#98449 03/12/03 01:26 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
R
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
R
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Why no low-falutin', asks Jackie
As "verlooten" is translated by Bill as "high-flown" High-falutin, presumably, translates as high - high-flown. Therefore, low-falutin' would translate as "low high-flown" which is very oxy-moronic.
I could see a use for it in an ironic or humourous context, but.


#98450 03/12/03 02:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Like underwhelmed, which should, from its etymology, mean having the ground washed out from under you or, metaphorically, having your base of support taken away, but is used as a humorous antonym to overwhelmed.


#98451 03/12/03 06:19 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
school


Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,347
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (wofahulicodoc), 769 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,548
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,918
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