Comments on: Chicano / Chicanery http://www.word-detective.com/2011/03/chicano-chicanery/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gene http://www.word-detective.com/2011/03/chicano-chicanery/comment-page-1/#comment-21614 Gene Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:59:42 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4734#comment-21614 I'm disappointed there is no entry for "chicane" as this is a term commonly used in auto racing, especially sport car racing. I’m disappointed there is no entry for “chicane” as this is a term commonly used in auto racing, especially sport car racing.

]]> By: Wm Watkins http://www.word-detective.com/2011/03/chicano-chicanery/comment-page-1/#comment-17665 Wm Watkins Mon, 09 May 2011 19:01:39 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4734#comment-17665 A long-time reader, I have not forgotten your advice to distrust word origins provided by tour guides. Recently a tour guide in Florida said that Spanish Moss (the fluffy stuff hanging from many trees in the American deep south) was so named by native Americans because it resembled the long beards worn by newly arrived Spanish soldiers. I had previously heard that the prevalent moss was given the name because, at the time, the deep south (especially Florida) was known as “New Spain,” much as the northeast was known as “New England”. (I also suspect that the natives had a word for the ubiquitous stuff long before the arrival of the Spanish.) Is either correct, or is there another explanation? A long-time reader, I have not forgotten your advice to distrust word origins provided by tour guides. Recently a tour guide in Florida said that Spanish Moss (the fluffy stuff hanging from many trees in the American deep south) was so named by native Americans because it resembled the long beards worn by newly arrived Spanish soldiers.

I had previously heard that the prevalent moss was given the name because, at the time, the deep south (especially Florida) was known as “New Spain,” much as the northeast was known as “New England”. (I also suspect that the natives had a word for the ubiquitous stuff long before the arrival of the Spanish.) Is either correct, or is there another explanation?

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