Strapping

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William A Hupy
Lexiterian
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Strapping

Postby William A Hupy » Wed Feb 28, 2024 1:02 pm

How did we go from a strap, meaning a band of leather to strapping, meaning tall and sturdy, robust?
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Slava
Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Strapping

Postby Slava » Wed Feb 28, 2024 4:54 pm

I'd never noticed just how many of these there are, these things etymonline calls "present-participle adjectives of violent action expressing something large in size or effect".

Whopping, spanking (1660s), bouncing (1570s), cracking, thumping (1570s), ripping, smashing. I wonder how many more are hiding out there. Anyone with a penchant for lists care to jump in?
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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Audiendus
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Re: Strapping

Postby Audiendus » Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:55 am

Whopping, spanking (1660s), bouncing (1570s), cracking, thumping (1570s), ripping, smashing. I wonder how many more are hiding out there. Anyone with a penchant for lists care to jump in?
Whacking, riveting, stonking, blistering...
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