Comments for The Word Detective

Comment on Wool by Christine

Christine — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000

Yup, yup, yup! 54 years old, grew up in central W.V. as did my parents and three of 4 grandparents. Remember ALL of my grand parents using the “VERB” wool. LOL. Pertaining to puppies and kitties for sure….and babies, but in exclusively. Definately had a connotation of wearing something/someone out!
“Don’t wool it (me ) around so”. Good to know that there are others! Most folks just think I’m nuts….which is true. ;D

Comment on Check by Chris Austiin

Chris Austiin — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:40:16 +0000

This has always bothered me as well. I have just assumed, the original phrase “check, please” originated because patrons wanted to “check” their bill. That is, they are really communicatiing “Please give me my bill so that I can check it, please.”. Therefore, I never ask for my “check”. I ask for my bill, which drives my wife crazy. If we are ever at dinner with friends, and they ask for the check, I say “Amazing. They are going to give us a check for eating here?”. I know – I am an ass, but this phrase is just lemmings just following the non-sensical verbage they have others use.

Comment on Dunderhead by Book

Book — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:51:07 +0000

The use of ‘dunderhead’ by Severus Snape in the first Harry Potter book was one of the first clues to his low upbringing in a northern English mill town. I see the word has Scottish roots, but I was wondering if it was specific to northern England, too. Close enough, I suppose.

Comment on “Kathleen Mavourneen” by Kathleen

Kathleen — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:51:39 +0000

We always referred to our measurements as our “numbers” I think it means her spell surrounds her.

Comment on Bad Penny by Isasater

Isasater — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:23:23 +0000

Dear Word Detective,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the time, energy and obvious enthusiasum you put into this site. I could spend hours and hours reading and enjoying your work.
Again, thank you, thank you thank you.

Comment on Hell in a Handbasket by Gary Harris

Gary Harris — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 01:30:56 +0000

I picture a wealthy Roman Senator being carried down the street in a basket. One man on each of the four corners. The ride is smooth, the curtains are drawn. The Senator is oblivious to the rough road, oblivious to the rubbish,mess,choas around him and the distress and anger of his fellow citizens. He is going to hell in a hand basket and he does not know it.

Comment on O.P., Prompt side. by Peter Barnes

Peter Barnes — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:12:04 +0000

Neither on God’s nor any other earth is the backstage area of a theatre called ‘the wings’. Unsurprisingly it is called ‘backstage’. The two areas to the left and right of the stage are the wings – presumably because, like wings on a bird, they are on both sides.

Comment on Goozle by Veronica

Veronica — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:23:28 +0000

My daddy always used it meaning throat. My husband has laughed at me for years for using this & accuses me of making it up. If I ever want to get a big laugh, when we play softball or go tubing on the lake or whatever sport, I can just say “Ow! That hit me right in the goozle!” Cracks them up every time. My family (including my husband) now use it often.

Comment on Jacks by Magpieranger

Magpieranger — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:26:41 +0000

“Jacks” comes from Cockney rhyming slang.

Old Bill = Jack ‘n’ Jill.

Comment on Indisposed by Donna

Donna — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 20:27:02 +0000

Although David will probably never see this, I find his haughty comment a bit offensive, as “indisposed” has not always meant “slightly unwell”, as the word detective clearly states. Even now, it also means “unwilling”. Apparently his education ended in 1966, and he is not open to the inevitable evolution of our language. I believe people have simply misunderstood its use and have not misused it in an effort to sound more educated than they are, as David suggests.

I also misunderstood “indisposed” to mean busy with something we don’t talk about in polite conversation, such as using the restroom. I have always heard it used in the phrase “indisposed at the moment” and always in response to a person who has called asking to speak to someone on the phone or who has made an unexpected visit to someone’s home. In this context, I don’t feel that many other people’s and my own conclusion is illogical. As others have said, perhaps this meaning will become accepted in the future.

Comment on Clamjamfry by john begg

john begg — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 09:59:03 +0000

Yes, it was – ““The Advocate be dammed!” cries he. “It’s the Campbells, man! You’ll have the whole clanjamfry of them on your back; and so will the Advocate too, poor body” From Catriona by RL Stevenson, David Balfour talking to Charles Stewart, Writer (to the signet = Scottish solicitor). If it is correct that it dates from early C19, then RLS has committed a rare anachronism, as Cationa is set in 1751!

Comment on Chesterfield, Sofa, Couch, Settee by Shannon

Shannon — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:13:56 +0000

I have family who grew up in Detroit in the 1910′s-60′s. According to them, the dufo was a couch with a “hide-a-bed”. The bed would fold, or “do fold”, into a couch. That’s how it was explained to me.