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hippodrome

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 11:27 pm
by eberntson
Pronunciation: /ˈhɪpədrəʊm/
noun

1 [as name] a theatre or concert hall: the Birmingham Hippodrome

2(in ancient Greece or Rome) a stadium for chariot or horse races.

Origin:
late 16th century (in hippodrome (sense 2)): from French, via Latin from Greek hippodromos, from hippos 'horse' + dromos 'race, course'. The early sense led to the term's use as a grandiose name for a modern circus, later applied to other places of popular entertainment

I remember growing up in Europe in the late 60's and early 70's seeing this word occasionally on big old buildings. I remember a particular wreck of a building in Wiesbaden, Germany that now that I come to think of it must have been a hippodrome. I'm sure the good doctor can find some amusement with this word; it just does things to the mouth when spoken. :lol:

Re: hippodrome

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 4:11 am
by Philip Hudson
eberntson: Being a little self centered, I always like a word that has part of my name in it.