Comments on: Steady the Buffs http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/steady-the-buffs/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Moira http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/steady-the-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-38998 Moira Sun, 06 May 2012 17:38:04 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/11/steady-the-buffs/#comment-38998 Seems to me it does come from the nautical sense, as if you're sailing straight and need to go straight and the waves are coming at you at an angle, and the color of the froth is beige, or "buff" at the top of the wave, so you fight the waves to go the direction you need to go...make sense? Seems to me it does come from the nautical sense, as if you’re sailing straight and need to go straight and the waves are coming at you at an angle, and the color of the froth is beige, or “buff” at the top of the wave, so you fight the waves to go the direction you need to go…make sense?

]]> By: William Harris http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/steady-the-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-28680 William Harris Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:38:41 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/11/steady-the-buffs/#comment-28680 The Buffs is also the nickname of a Scottish Junior Football club from Kilwinning in Ayrshire. Those not familiar with Scottish Junior football should note that the term junior does not mean young and Ayrshire Junior Football endures a somewhat brutal reputation. The club website links parts of the previous comments thus. "Kilwinning Rangers or The Buffs as they are more affectionately known, were formed in 1899 as a Juvenile football club, playing at Blacklands Park, which they shared with the then senior side of Eglinton Seniors. "They officially became a Junior football club on the 26th of July 1902. "The name Buffs was first recorded on the 21st of September 1900 when the local paper, the Irvine Herald recorded that the so-called Buffs had had an emphatic victory over Kilmarnock Belgrove. "The name Buffs has had folklore of its own and to this day there is no definitive version of how the name came about! but there are a few well told theories. One is that a soldier played for the team who was a member of the 1st East Kents, 3rd regiment of the line an army regiment who were nicknamed The Buffs. The second being that the name was used at that time to describe anything that was “smashing” but the third and most likely theory is that the team played at that time in a dull yellow, or Buff strip." The Buffs is also the nickname of a Scottish Junior Football club from Kilwinning in Ayrshire. Those not familiar with Scottish Junior football should note that the term junior does not mean young and Ayrshire Junior Football endures a somewhat brutal reputation. The club website links parts of the previous comments thus.

“Kilwinning Rangers or The Buffs as they are more affectionately known, were formed in 1899 as a
Juvenile football club, playing at Blacklands Park, which they shared with the then senior side
of Eglinton Seniors.

“They officially became a Junior football club on the 26th of July 1902.

“The name Buffs was first recorded on the 21st of September 1900 when the local paper, the
Irvine Herald recorded that the so-called Buffs had had an emphatic victory over
Kilmarnock Belgrove.

“The name Buffs has had folklore of its own and to this day there is no definitive version of how
the name came about! but there are a few well told theories. One is that a soldier played for
the team who was a member of the 1st East Kents, 3rd regiment of the line an army regiment who
were nicknamed The Buffs. The second being that the name was used at that time to describe
anything that was “smashing” but the third and most likely theory is that the team played at
that time in a dull yellow, or Buff strip.”

]]> By: Hermes http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/steady-the-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-16716 Hermes Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:53:50 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/11/steady-the-buffs/#comment-16716 I think it would be like the 'Hold your horses' of the 1900's. I believe that Sheila looks to be extremely excited about this ring, so his brother Eric tries to put her feet back on the ground... I think it would be like the ‘Hold your horses’ of the 1900′s. I believe that Sheila looks to be extremely excited about this ring, so his brother Eric tries to put her feet back on the ground…

]]> By: Tony http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/steady-the-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-4023 Tony Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:02:14 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/11/steady-the-buffs/#comment-4023 In the interwar years of boredom, young soldiers wanting a bit of excitement on a Saturday evening would shout, if they saw any Guardsmen in tne same pub or canteen,"Forward the Buffs and steady the Buffs ! and let the gentlemen of the Guards take a place of safety at the REAR!" The resulting fight satisfied everyone. Have things really changed since then? In the interwar years of boredom, young soldiers wanting a bit of excitement on a Saturday evening would shout, if they saw any Guardsmen in tne same pub or canteen,”Forward the Buffs and steady the Buffs ! and let the gentlemen of the Guards take a place of safety at the REAR!”
The resulting fight satisfied everyone. Have things really changed since then?

]]> By: Stella http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/steady-the-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-2646 Stella Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:37:32 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/11/steady-the-buffs/#comment-2646 I've also looked up the expression in a few Dictionaries, without much success, but what I think,is, that in the context of the play, this expression may have another connotation: Sheila has just become engaged and her fiancee has given her a diamond ring, which apparently, is very bright. Perhaps the expression may take the other meaning of buff, which is shiny, and Eric, Sheila's brother, might be referring to the way the ring shines, its rays should be steadied... perhaps. What do you think? Looking forward to your feedback, Stella I’ve also looked up the expression in a few Dictionaries, without much success, but what I think,is, that in the context of the play, this expression may have another connotation: Sheila has just become engaged and her fiancee has given her a diamond ring, which apparently, is very bright. Perhaps the expression may take the other meaning of buff, which is shiny, and Eric, Sheila’s brother, might be referring to the way the ring shines, its rays should be steadied… perhaps.
What do you think?
Looking forward to your feedback,
Stella

]]> By: A Sweet http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/steady-the-buffs/comment-page-1/#comment-1244 A Sweet Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:58:50 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/11/steady-the-buffs/#comment-1244 The phrase Steady, The Buffs was not originally coined on the battle field but the parade ground. When the 3rd of Foot were sharing barracks with the 21st Fusiliers. One of the 3rds' NCOs would urge the Buffs to be steady on the parade ground as the 21st were watching them. Something that amused the Fusiliers, so they took to shouting it at the 3rd whenever they met from then on. This then spread to be called out whenever the 3rd marched past. The phrase Steady, The Buffs was not originally coined on the battle field but the parade ground. When the 3rd of Foot were sharing barracks with the 21st Fusiliers. One of the 3rds’ NCOs would urge the Buffs to be steady on the parade ground as the 21st were watching them. Something that amused the Fusiliers, so they took to shouting it at the 3rd whenever they met from then on. This then spread to be called out whenever the 3rd marched past.

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