Page 1 of 1

snaffle

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:01 am
by JohnYY
I believe to be a word without synonyms. Perhaps I can snaffle a word of praise for it!

Re: snaffle

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:11 am
by Perry Lassiter
O-^-O

O-*-O

?

Re: snaffle

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:52 am
by Philip Hudson
Perry: At first I thought you were doodling. Then I realized you were cleverly drawing a snaffle. But why two? One for each side of the bridle?

Snaffle has synonyms. As a verb, snaffle synonyms are grab, snap up and take. As a noun, snaffle is usually used in "snaffle bit" which, though it is a specific part of a bridle to the initiated, is sometimes used as a synonym for bridle. The tack room is a mystery to most non-equestrians and thus to most people. My mom was an equestrian. My dad, not so much. To him, after we got tractors, they were just useless playthings that cost a mint to maintain.

Mother had to part with her almost lifelong friend, Ribbon, in an "It's the horse or me" ultimatum from my dad. As a coincidence, at about that same time, my father-in-law was laying down the same law to my mother-in-law. That was a sad thing for me because, except for horses, I am phobic of all other animals that might be considered "pets". I love horses. Else, why would I be named Philip? I suspect my mom knew Philip is from the Greek and means "lover of horses" and, counting on my dad not knowing, she chose my name.

There is not a horsier set than the English. Hence words describing horses and horse paraphernalia are rife in our language.