Comments for The Word Detective

Comment on Skirt by Amy Clarke Moore

Amy Clarke Moore — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 12:13:28 +0000

Skirt is still used to describe a process of removing the dirty or less usable pieces of a fleece after it is shorn from a sheep and I think that it is connected to this definition – especially considering the importance of sheep in the British Isles.

Comment on Stand down by Brendan Hickey

Brendan Hickey — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 16:18:56 +0000

The phrase is commonly used in disaster relief organizations, which are not military but are influenced by military and police structure. I was curious about the origin and found this post, so thanks. In disaster relief, standing down means cancelling a deployment, reducing alert status, or going home after a response.

Comment on Brickbat by Kohut Thomas

Kohut Thomas — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 23:19:50 +0000

I come from a small town in New York called Haverstraw, which was the red brick making capitol of the world at one time. ‘Hard as a brickbat’ was a very common term used, as was pointed out in another post, primarily to refer to baked goods. Thus I think the alternate definition that relates to brick making equipment seems valid. I will check into the brick museum there to see if there are references

Comment on Math vs. Maths by Mack

Mack — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 17:31:05 +0000

So according to some, all it takes is for there to be more than one version of it to REQUIRE the use the plural form. Which means that even though I own one car, because there are literally hundreds of different types, makes and models, I need to tell my mates to get into the cars. Actually, it seems to me that lots of things come in many varieties so there is really no need for many of the singular words we use. I guess I’ll go sit on my couches, put my feet up on the coffees tables and have a talk with my wifes Kellys. Makes sense since there are lots of types of couches, I personally know many women who are wives and for certain Kelly is a name that belongs to lots of people. Yup, seems perfectly logical to me.

Comment on Gonzo by Gonzo Form

Gonzo Form — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 10:03:47 +0000

So, I know that this thread is a bit old, but I came across it trying to figure out why the term, “Gonzo” is classified as a banned/inappropriate name on certain social media platforms. As I’m a big fan of HST and his style of journalism, I use the term in the name of my photography business. Not sure if this helps out or not, but I actually found a paper written on the etymology of the word. I’ll try to attach a link to the paper.

https://www.academia.edu/216072/What_is_Gonzo_The_etymology_of_an_urban_legend?source=swp_share

Comment on Tip by Steve Henderson

Steve Henderson — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 04:10:35 +0000

I agree that ‘trp’ would work, but, I would have to apply the acronym ‘trap’ to many commercial services I’ve received: “to reward adequate promptness.”

Comment on Sheeny by Tom Warling

Tom Warling — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 06:26:02 +0000

Tom, as I was reading your post I was thinking “Did I were this?” We must have known the same rag man (I have seen Sheeny but we used the word Shinny). I lived in Lowetown on 7th and Wacouta. How about you?

Comment on Full Monty by Angela White

Angela White — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 13:18:36 +0000

Monty is short for Montefiore and, as such, does rhyme with story.

Comment on Pocketbook by Judy

Judy — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 03:05:50 +0000

I grew up and live in the suburbs of Philly. My 100 year old mother grew up in center city Philadelphia. All generations of women here have always refered to their pocketbooks. If I mix it up and use the word purse, everyone knows that I am referring to my pocketbook.

Comment on Stub by Esther

Esther — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 00:11:30 +0000

Yeah, I just stubbed my toe on the washing machine and wondered the same thing. Thanks for this answer.

Comment on Haywire by Alaskadog

Alaskadog — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 21:24:41 +0000

To go haywire means when you were trying is load a machine for baling hay with wire if you let go of the roll of wire at the wrong time it unraveled in a chaotic and unpredictable manner very fast and crazy all over the place…

Comment on Ague by M

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 18:56:59 +0000

A passing thought, pronounced as one syllable, wouldn’t it sound like the backhalf of ‘plague’?