Comments on: “Spring” and “neap” tides http://www.word-detective.com/2012/04/spring-and-neap-tides/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ethanael http://www.word-detective.com/2012/04/spring-and-neap-tides/comment-page-1/#comment-43070 Ethanael Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:44:09 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=6645#comment-43070 It's a relief to find someone who can epxilan things so well It’s a relief to find someone who can epxilan things so well

]]> By: AirBnb http://www.word-detective.com/2012/04/spring-and-neap-tides/comment-page-1/#comment-38760 AirBnb Fri, 04 May 2012 02:52:25 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=6645#comment-38760 You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend http://www.word-detective.com! You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend http://www.word-detective.com!

]]> By: Louise Hope http://www.word-detective.com/2012/04/spring-and-neap-tides/comment-page-1/#comment-38505 Louise Hope Tue, 01 May 2012 18:26:22 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=6645#comment-38505 You missed a priceless opportunity to show off by tossing in the other two "tide" words, <i>ebb</i> and <i>flow</i>. Admittedly their respective etymologies wouldn't take up more than a line and a half, but then you'd have them all tied up in a neat package. You missed a priceless opportunity to show off by tossing in the other two “tide” words, ebb and flow. Admittedly their respective etymologies wouldn’t take up more than a line and a half, but then you’d have them all tied up in a neat package.

]]> By: BCB http://www.word-detective.com/2012/04/spring-and-neap-tides/comment-page-1/#comment-38363 BCB Sun, 29 Apr 2012 03:22:07 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=6645#comment-38363 "The one theory that seems plausible ties “neap” to the English words “nip” and/or “neb” (meaning the bill or beak of a bird). You could make a case that when the level of high tide converges with that of low tide, the difference between the two narrows like the beak of a bird, or perhaps something that is “nipped,” squeezed together sharply." Also, if you did live by the shore, you surely (shorely?) will have noticed that any particularly low tide will bring in a preponderance of seabirds to "beak" at the sea-critters that are usually under water but suddenly are not. Given the usual "common-man" evolution of the language we use, this seems to me more likely than some esoteric theme on squeezing. “The one theory that seems plausible ties “neap” to the English words “nip” and/or “neb” (meaning the bill or beak of a bird). You could make a case that when the level of high tide converges with that of low tide, the difference between the two narrows like the beak of a bird, or perhaps something that is “nipped,” squeezed together sharply.”

Also, if you did live by the shore, you surely (shorely?) will have noticed that any particularly low tide will bring in a preponderance of seabirds to “beak” at the sea-critters that are usually under water but suddenly are not. Given the usual “common-man” evolution of the language we use, this seems to me more likely than some esoteric theme on squeezing.

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