General, General Thread Page 2,562

Quote: Pingl @ March 13 2013, 12:39 AM GMT

The term, often associated with hippies, man, is a cultural hangover that references slavery. Black slaves were referred to as boy, as a riposte to this black people started to call each other man, this term was then adopted by the sixties counter culture and slowly crept into everyday use.

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Quote: Pingl @ March 13 2013, 10:55 AM GMT

Dude is an old English word dating back to the 1870's meaning a dandy. The original meaning may come from Scotland where duddies meant clothes

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Pingl, if Stephen Fry gets tired of his job as a Q.I. presenter you could be his successor.

That's really interesting, pingl. Where did you learn that?

"dude" also used to mean "done" in Somerset.

Or so my book called "Dictionary of Archaic Words" says.

do-ed

Quote: Harridan @ March 13 2013, 1:14 PM GMT

That's really interesting, pingl. Where did you learn that?

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I am a very sad man and one of many sad hobbies is etymology, oh how those long winter nights just fly by

Etymology is fascinating. Any book recommendations?

Quote: Pingl @ March 13 2013, 5:33 PM GMT

I am a very sad man and one of many sad hobbies is etymology

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"Mine too. I really like collecting those Butterflies" Del boy would reply.

Quote: Gordon Bennett @ March 13 2013, 12:47 PM GMT

Pingl, if Stephen Fry gets tired of his job as a Q.I. presenter you could be his successor.

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If Alan Davies gets tired of his job, your up GB

Jus kiddin

Quote: Harridan @ March 13 2013, 6:36 PM GMT

Etymology is fascinating. Any book recommendations?

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A good starting point is either Chambers or The Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ato, both quite dry but fascinating

Be warned though you will soon be irritating people by explaining words origins, you may notice them backing away as you explain the derivation of biscuit, French meaning twice baked....

Only dull people are bored by facts.

I wonder if you know the origin of the phrase 'fight fire with fire'? It's bugged me for years because it doesn't make sense the way people use it - if you try to put out a fire with fire you just make it worse.

Quote: Harridan @ March 13 2013, 9:01 PM GMT

Only dull people are bored by facts.

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Is that a fact

Quote: Jockadoodle @ March 13 2013, 9:02 PM GMT

Is that a fact

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Did it bore you?

Quote: Harridan @ March 13 2013, 9:01 PM GMT

Only dull people are bored by facts.

I wonder if you know the origin of the phrase 'fight fire with fire'? It's bugged me for years because it doesn't make sense the way people use it - if you try to put out a fire with fire you just make it worse.

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I've always taken that as a literal saying, in that it is pointless fighting fire with fire, but now you have me thinking and I shall do some digging

Quote: Harridan @ March 13 2013, 9:01 PM GMT

Only dull people are bored by facts.

I wonder if you know the origin of the phrase 'fight fire with fire'? It's bugged me for years because it doesn't make sense the way people use it - if you try to put out a fire with fire you just make it worse.

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Not neccasirly big pertrol fires are fought with explosives, to suck out all the oxygen

now I think about it I read some where that ancient Aborigines started controlled brush fires to both clear agricultural land and prevent more severe uncontrolled brush fires.

As it was the most efficent way to create fire breaks.

Stupid savages f**ked the eco system by destroying too many trees and bushes thus turning much of Oz into a desert

Another interesting fact!

Quote: sootyj @ March 13 2013, 9:08 PM GMT

pertrol fires

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Like Napalm?