Curglaff

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
LukeJavan8
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Curglaff

Postby LukeJavan8 » Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:05 pm

- the shock felt when plunging into cold water - CURGLAFF (a Scottish word whose origins are obvious, given the temperature of water in the Highlands!)

again Bailey's.
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Slava
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Postby Slava » Thu May 12, 2011 6:23 pm

While I admit I haven't spent a lot of time looking, I haven't found a source for this word so far. It's mentioned in a lot of lists, but no one ever cites where they got it. Any brave souls out there to track it down? Perhaps there's a Scot on the Agora?
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

LukeJavan8
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Postby LukeJavan8 » Thu May 12, 2011 6:38 pm

A good word still: wish I knew it when doing
'cannonballs" as a boy, good scream just when hitting
the water.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----

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Slava
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Postby Slava » Thu May 12, 2011 7:52 pm

I agree, an excellent and even fun word. I just wish I could find out more about it.

It reminds me of the old iced tea TV ad of a hot and sweaty someone sipping from a glass of tea and falling backwards into a swimming pool. Though, as my mother pointed out, that's a good way to have a heart attack. The shock of the sudden shift in temperature could be fatal.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

MTC
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Postby MTC » Fri May 13, 2011 4:11 am

According to one source:

curglaff
The shock felt in bathing when one first plunges into the cold water.
- John Jamieson's Etymological Scottish Dictionary, 1808

Examples of usage:

I don't drink vermouth, I dump it on my head hoping it will color my hair, as curglaff hits and I finally know what the word means.
— Fictionaut, “Hitting Cold Words”

Curgloft, confounded, and bumbaz'd,
On east and west by turns he gazed.
As ship that's tossed with stormy weather,
Drives on, the pilot knows not whither.
{William Meston's Poetical Works, 1767}

For the medical consequences see:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,240539,00.html

Finally, for those who want the thrill without the chill:

A cold chill (also known as frisson, or simply thrills or cold chills) is described by David Huron as, "a pleasant tingling feeling, associated with the flexing of hair follicles resulting in goose bumps (technically called piloerection), accompanied by a cold sensation, and sometimes producing a shudder or shiver." [1] Unlike shivering, however, it is not caused by temperature, menopause, or anxiety but rather is an emotionally triggered response when one is deeply affected by things such as music [2], speech [3] or recollection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_chill

LukeJavan8
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Postby LukeJavan8 » Fri May 13, 2011 1:08 pm

I agree, an excellent and even fun word. I just wish I could find out more about it.

It reminds me of the old iced tea TV ad of a hot and sweaty someone sipping from a glass of tea and falling backwards into a swimming pool. Though, as my mother pointed out, that's a good way to have a heart attack. The shock of the sudden shift in temperature could be fatal.

Interestingly too, for myself, after sitting in a
hot tub, jacuzzi, whatever, then jumping into the pool
the water was cold, yes, but I was not {having been
heated by the hot tub, I suppose}.



I very much remember the ice tea adv. Good one.
I don't think it would be any worse, however, than diving
off the board. The first plunge used to really give me
the shakes. But after the first it was OK.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----

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Slava
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Postby Slava » Fri May 13, 2011 4:31 pm

There are some Russians, especially among the males, who go to the banya (sauna), get all hot and sweaty and then run outside, naked, and roll around in the snow.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

LukeJavan8
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Postby LukeJavan8 » Fri May 13, 2011 6:13 pm

Lots of places do that, Alaska, Massachusetts, etc.
Supposed to be great for the health.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----


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