On 20 Sep 2002 at 9:07, Donald H. McBurney wrote: > Having triggered this discussion by using what I knew to be a cliche, I have > to congratulate Stephen. His definition reminds me of some of the best of > the old radio program, My Word, where Frank Muir and other Brits would make > up the most outrageous explanations and definitions of words and sayings. I > miss it still. (Muir's autobio is a good read for any who remember, and gave > me many belly laughs.) > Thank you, Don. Those comments give me the opportunity to plug what is probably the inspiration for my fanciful etymology, the real but often bizarre stories of word origins brought to my computer terminal each week in the scholarly but entertaining World Wide Words newsletter of Michael Quinion. You can sign up for it at http://www.quinion.com/words/
Check out, for example, his masterful deconstruction in last week's edition of a reader's query about the origin of his father's mysterious comment when something was lost that "Yehudi took it". Well, actually you can't, because his website archives aren't that up- to-date, but if you subscribed, you could. An available acceptable substitute is his explanation of the word "suffonsified". I also want to say that this thread illustrates my theory that when we start out with a humorous, frivolous or off-topic item, it often leads surprisingly to something of greater significance, such as David Likely's informative historical contribution on "gall". That's why I'm happy we don't have relevance police on this list. -Stephen _______________________________________________________ Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at: http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips ________________________________________________________ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
