Have a favorite tortuous-path etymology? I'm fond of 'tabby' and 'album', as applied to a collection of music, particularly in one of the new formats.
Also, how about curious cousins, like 'hearse' and 'rehearse', not to mention 'vagina' and 'vanilla'?
Etymology Faves
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 8491
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
Re: Etymology Faves
I like tawdry.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
Re: Etymology Faves
'Tawdry' is good, but I was looking for less straightforward derivations. The English seem to have a penchant for elision in names. Think 'Bedlam' and 'Sinjin' (St. John), not to mention 'Fanshaw' (Featherstonhaugh).
Forgot 'Chumley' before. Spelled 'Cholmondeley'.
Forgot 'Chumley' before. Spelled 'Cholmondeley'.
Re: Etymology Faves
Here's another good one. Can you find the route from the erudite quill of Washington Irving to "Don't get your knickers in a twist"?
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