http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/devil-of-a-time/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/devil-of-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-27564 New Orleans Web Design Guy Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:46:01 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/14/devil-of-a-time/#comment-27564 “A devil of a time”. Remarkable how often I use this expression, without having any idea of its origins! “A devil of a time”. Remarkable how often I use this expression, without having any idea of its origins!

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/devil-of-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-11784 N.O.T.S. Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:35:30 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/14/devil-of-a-time/#comment-11784 It's always amazing how much we take for granted the origin of words, and how deep and rich their histories can be! Thanks for the insight! It’s always amazing how much we take for granted the origin of words, and how deep and rich their histories can be! Thanks for the insight!

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/devil-of-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-4855 Adrian Morgan Sun, 23 May 2010 18:31:03 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/14/devil-of-a-time/#comment-4855 i am into sailing and i am also a diy fiberglass sailing boat enthusiasts for 5 years now. i really love sailing.~'' i am into sailing and i am also a diy fiberglass sailing boat enthusiasts for 5 years now. i really love sailing.~”

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/devil-of-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3148 Jack Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:50:20 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/14/devil-of-a-time/#comment-3148 Sorry, I don't recall where I found the exact reference (it was is a sailing book of some sort), but "the devil to pay" was described as the most extreme form of a punishment meted out by sea captains - being forced to "pay" or caulk, a seam of a wooden sailing vessel from bow to stern. The longest seams on such a ship were those on either side of the keel, at the lowest, smelliest, most rat infested part of the hull, and named "the devil". Having to "pay the devil" was indeed extreme punishment! Sorry, I don’t recall where I found the exact reference (it was is a sailing book of some sort), but “the devil to pay” was described as the most extreme form of a punishment meted out by sea captains – being forced to “pay” or caulk, a seam of a wooden sailing vessel from bow to stern. The longest seams on such a ship were those on either side of the keel, at the lowest, smelliest, most rat infested part of the hull, and named “the devil”. Having to “pay the devil” was indeed extreme punishment!

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/devil-of-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-1775 Becky Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:04:12 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/14/devil-of-a-time/#comment-1775 I had a teacher in college who said that the english word FUN has it's origin as devil of a time. Is this true? I had a teacher in college who said that the english word FUN has it’s origin as devil of a time.
Is this true?

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