Firkin & Kilderkin

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eberntson
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Firkin & Kilderkin

Postby eberntson » Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:33 pm

Firkin is a small cask for liquids, or a measure for a small tank of fish. Children is a a) a quarter barrel, & b) metaphorically a large amount.

These are apparently lexical orphans. Middle dutch, that relate to German and English. Relate to family of other -kins, like jerkin, Wilkins, napkin, et al.

I know, I have heard some pet names between folks with -kins in them.
EBERNTSON
Fear less, hope more;
eat less, chew more;
whine less, breathe more;
talk less, say more,
and all good things will be yours.
--R. Burns

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Slava
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Re: Firkin & Kilderkin

Postby Slava » Tue Jun 14, 2016 8:05 am

I wonder if -kin is related to the whole word kin. :?:
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eberntson
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Re: Firkin & Kilderkin

Postby eberntson » Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:08 am

It might be part of plattdeutsch, which was a trading language in the German culture used by the farmers, fisherman, and tradesman to do business. Measures were not necessarily standard so a little (-kin) might be a designation of size tacked onto the end of a goods name. This is all conjecture on my part. I can ask my uncle who took plattdeutsch in school.
EBERNTSON
Fear less, hope more;
eat less, chew more;
whine less, breathe more;
talk less, say more,
and all good things will be yours.
--R. Burns


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