BANGS

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Dr. Goodword
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BANGS

Postby Dr. Goodword » Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:12 am

• bangs •

Pronunciation: bængz • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun


Meaning: A straight cut of hair across the forehead.

Notes: Notes: Although I have only heard this word in the plural throughout my life, the Oxford English Dictionary lists only the singular, offering examples such as this one "The straight dark hair, with its heavy bang across her childish forehead." Why a word referring to hair, a word seldom used in the plural, should have traded over for the plural in the US, is a mystery we will not resolve here. However, remember that singular bang is just as good as plural bangs in this case.

In Play: If you like to stand out in a conversation, try something like this sometime: "Did you hear about Hedda Haire? She fell and received a nasty bang just below her bang." You can cite this Good Word as your source on the singular. If you prefer to go with the flow, stick with expressions like this: "I really get a bang out of your new bangs, Hedda; I think they are a bang-up idea."

Word History: Today's Good Word, believe it or not, began in the British army in the middle of the 19th century when the tails of horses were squarely docked as if shot off with a bang from a gun. This tail-styling eventually made its way to the United States where several bang-tailed horses won races, attracting the attention of hair-stylists. What a great idea! So by the 1920s, slashing the hair in a straight line over the forehead became a rave that has retained much of its momentum until this very day. (If you got a bang out of today's Good Word, we owe a word of thanks to Jackie Strauss for suggesting it.)
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Bailey
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Postby Bailey » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:10 am

The Aussies I met en masse on the plane got a real bang out of this usage for what seemed so much more logical as 'fringe'.

mark fringe-dwelling-no-bangs Bailey

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Postby Perry » Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:41 am

In Hebrew they call bangs a "pony" and pony tails are called "coo coo".
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Postby gailr » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:30 pm

In Hebrew they call bangs a "pony" and pony tails are called "coo coo".
And walrus whiskers are...?

Bailey
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Postby Bailey » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:13 pm

In Hebrew they call bangs a "pony" and pony tails are called "coo coo".
pony tails on men especially aging hippies, is indeed coo coo, but on young girls like grandchildren it's quite charming.

mark furry-with-the-fringe-on-top Bailey

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Postby sluggo » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:35 am

In Hebrew they call bangs a "pony" and pony tails are called "coo coo".
And walrus whiskers are...?
Paul?
Mrs. Robinson?
Gesundheit...
Stop! Murder us not, tonsured rumpots! Knife no one, fink!


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