Footling

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
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Slava
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Footling

Postby Slava » Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:57 pm

I came across this one in an article in The Economist. I thought I'd share.

It means trivial, piddling, foolish, ridiculous. The etymology might prove tricky, but I'm sure the Dr. can handle it.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

Philip Hudson
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Re: Footling

Postby Philip Hudson » Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:51 pm

A footling is also a kind of breech birth where the feet come out first. The etymology of this word is obvious.

The etymology of footling, as suggested by Slava, is less sure. It may come from a French word for f**k. Perhaps the Good Doctor will take footling as a Good Word, although it doesn't seem to be a very "good" word to me.
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Perry Lassiter
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Re: Footling

Postby Perry Lassiter » Wed Nov 21, 2012 12:28 am

I should think a good word would be one that becomes easily understood and useful for calling to mind that to which it refers.
pl

Philip Hudson
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Re: Footling

Postby Philip Hudson » Thu Nov 22, 2012 1:37 am

Touché, Perry.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.


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