Search found 882 matches
- Mon Sep 07, 2015 3:21 pm
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: Sanitary Commission
- Replies: 3
- Views: 9274
Sanitary Commission
I was reading an old booklet of my dad's, "The Man with no Country". I read in the introduction that the author was a member of the Sanitary Commission of the US. I looked this up and this term came for UK and it is the care for sick and wounded soldiers. This reference was for our Civil War. Englan...
- Fri May 01, 2015 6:06 pm
- Forum: Oh, and have you read...?
- Topic: Cajun Pronuciations
- Replies: 3
- Views: 14033
Re: Cajun Pronuciations
It may be an equilibrium effect.....All those lost R's in Boston!
- Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:41 pm
- Forum: Oh, and have you read...?
- Topic: Cajun Pronuciations
- Replies: 3
- Views: 14033
Cajun Pronuciations
The French settled in Louisiana in the early 1800's. The origin of the settlers was Arcadian-Canadians I believe. This is background for my question. We have a not-well educated friend from Louisiana and she pronounces oil as EARL. She pronounces point as PRUNT. I'm sure there are more. The question...
- Thu Apr 09, 2015 10:15 pm
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: "By her appointment to her Majesty the Queen"
- Replies: 6
- Views: 12153
Re: "By her appointment to her Majesty the Queen"
Sounds like the Purchasing Dept. for the Queen declares the Warrants, or there is a application process. I would think somebody is paying something to somebody!
How does this compare to Underwriter's Laboratories which is an international quality certification company?
How does this compare to Underwriter's Laboratories which is an international quality certification company?
- Tue Apr 07, 2015 2:19 pm
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: "By her appointment to her Majesty the Queen"
- Replies: 6
- Views: 12153
"By her appointment to her Majesty the Queen"
I would like some explanation to an American.
Appointment to..... I would have thought "by" so who is doing the appointing. Does it really have anything to do with the Queen? Are there any fees involved and if so, to whom?
Appointment to..... I would have thought "by" so who is doing the appointing. Does it really have anything to do with the Queen? Are there any fees involved and if so, to whom?
- Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:33 pm
- Forum: Addicts' Corner
- Topic: Holding your breath
- Replies: 6
- Views: 8165
Re: Holding your breath
Only somewhat related, a church in town asked for a permit to build a centerarium (sorry for the spelling) where ashes could be deposited. The local realtors signed a petition against it because they would have to inform potential clients close to the church about the burial site. It was approved by...
- Sun Aug 31, 2014 8:55 pm
- Forum: Addicts' Corner
- Topic: alive
- Replies: 0
- Views: 7287
alive
I heard a presentation the other day on NPR. A fella did a doctorate entitled something like "What is life?" He said the conclusion was (and I am sure he was simplifying all of his work) life is to be alive! After a laugh it did make me think about what is the most basic proof of life is. I knew tha...
- Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:08 pm
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: Words we forget
- Replies: 8
- Views: 11446
Re: Words we forget
My word is "Renaissance" Man. I was considering this question and could not think of the work and them Rick Steves' Travel Show just references the Renaissance.
For some reason my first thought is Cosmopolitan Man which is totally different.
For some reason my first thought is Cosmopolitan Man which is totally different.
- Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:42 pm
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: A garbage worker?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 18662
Re: A garbage worker?
In America, he is a Sanitation Engineer. That is most likely coined by the Union. In reality, he is a City employee or Sanitation Technician in our town. Ours are great for the service they provide.... household trash twice a week, recycle once and week, and large trash every other week....no charge...
- Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:10 am
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: pecking order / henpecked
- Replies: 7
- Views: 11953
Re: pecking order / henpecked
Pecking order does not imply genders. Hen-pecked does. Pecking order is in a group. Hen-pecked refers only to relative the male. I don't see a relationship. And to bully does not have a gender reference. Pecking order does imply some one is bullying the lessers! That should provide enough metaphors.
- Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:36 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Cult
- Replies: 5
- Views: 5901
Re: Cult
Paradoxically, Jesus and his disciples were a cult relative to the culture they lived among.
Most Christians, including Jehovah Witnesses, consider Mormons a cult.
My opinion would be calling Jehovah Witnesses a cult shows mostly a lack of understanding by the speaker rather than a insult.
Most Christians, including Jehovah Witnesses, consider Mormons a cult.
My opinion would be calling Jehovah Witnesses a cult shows mostly a lack of understanding by the speaker rather than a insult.
- Wed Jan 01, 2014 10:30 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Bust
- Replies: 1
- Views: 4738
Bust
Another triad of usages with no relationship to one another.
Bust....a woman's bosom
Bust...a bronze head (or other medium)
Bust...a failure.
Origin of BUST
French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum tomb
First Known Use: 1645
Bust....a woman's bosom
Bust...a bronze head (or other medium)
Bust...a failure.
Origin of BUST
French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum tomb
First Known Use: 1645
- Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:46 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Watch P's and Q's
- Replies: 6
- Views: 7963
Re: Watch P's and Q's
You are correct.
- Sun Dec 29, 2013 12:43 am
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Watch P's and Q's
- Replies: 6
- Views: 7963
Re: Watch P's and Q's
I thought the Linotype explanation was most plausible which is close to yours.
- Thu Dec 26, 2013 5:48 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Watch P's and Q's
- Replies: 6
- Views: 7963
Watch P's and Q's
This expression just came up this morning and I had not thought of it for decades. I did a slight summarization of the Wikepedia discourse. I did not try to search Word Wizard anticipating issues. "Ps and Qs" is short for "pleases" and "thank-yous"…yous and Qs has a similar sound. Another origin com...