Search found 388 matches

by bnjtokyo
Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:44 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Bigfoot
Replies: 5
Views: 4505

Re: Bigfoot

There was a discussion of "bigfoot" in another thread in March, 2014 https://www.alphadictionary.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=43064&hilit=bigfoot#p43064 And then I guess it became a WoD in May of that year (this thread). Today I came across "bigfoot" in the wild and was completely ...
by bnjtokyo
Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:22 am
Forum: Idioms
Topic: tie the knot/get hitched
Replies: 1
Views: 900

tie the knot/get hitched

Does anyone know of a good glossary of idioms/
Does anyone know the origin of the idioms "tie the knot" or "get hitched" (meaning to get married)?
-- Thank you for any insight.
by bnjtokyo
Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:44 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Amorous
Replies: 1
Views: 106

Re: Amorus

From "As You Like It"

It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o’er the green cornfield did pass,
In springtime, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.
by bnjtokyo
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:46 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Saltate
Replies: 2
Views: 140

Re: Saltate

Reading this I was reminded that there is a classic Italian dish called Saltimbocca which is usually translated as "jump in mouth." The delectable flavors of sage and cheese wrapped around thinly sliced veal shock your taste buds as they suddenly "jump up" in your mouth.
by bnjtokyo
Sun Feb 04, 2024 7:16 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Pejorative
Replies: 5
Views: 1003

Re: Pejorative

I would like to know how Latin got from the "mal-" of "malus" to the "pej-" of "pejor". It seems a rather odd phonetic change.
by bnjtokyo
Thu Feb 01, 2024 7:31 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Samey
Replies: 6
Views: 5371

Re: Samey

But the attitude expressed any vocal utterance can change depending on the tone of voice used. There is the classic acting exercise where one attempts to express many as many different affective states as possible while repeating a one or two word phrase like "hello" or "good morning&...
by bnjtokyo
Sun Jan 07, 2024 7:23 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Crwth
Replies: 8
Views: 48610

Re: Crwth

I agree the sentence is unclear. Perhaps
". . . the other two are a kind of bass drone that are also occasionally picked."
Perhaps if you watch enough YouTube videos you will catch someone doing it.
by bnjtokyo
Sat Jan 06, 2024 6:34 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Crwth
Replies: 8
Views: 48610

Re: Crwth

I quote from the definition above
". . . the other two are picked as a kind of bass drone."
which implies these strings mostly sit there vibrating in resonance with the instrument as a whole.
by bnjtokyo
Thu Dec 28, 2023 6:59 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Glee
Replies: 6
Views: 25952

Re: Glee

According to the Wikipedia page The name of its original product, Clorox, was coined as a portmanteau of its two main ingredients, chlorine and sodium hydroxide According to etymon line, [Chlorine, the] nonmetallic element, the name coined 1810 by English chemist Sir Humphry Davy from Latinized form...
by bnjtokyo
Sat Dec 23, 2023 10:07 pm
Forum: WELCOME HOME!
Topic: Visage
Replies: 9
Views: 32319

Re: Visage

bbeeton, you might find this tongue twister from Japanese amusing 庭には鶏二羽います。 In Romanized Japanese niwa niwa niwatori niwa imasu The gloss for the first niwa (庭) is "garden" (tone high-low, tiny pause) The next niwa is the locative particle and the topic marker (には)(tone flat, slightly lon...
by bnjtokyo
Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:07 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Cavalier
Replies: 7
Views: 26068

Re: Cavalier

David, I second your observation that the elastic bands with hooks on the end used to secure items on the luggage racks of motorcycles and bicycles are called "bungy cords" on at least the west coast of the US. And I believe this usage predates the advent of bungee jumping by several years...
by bnjtokyo
Fri Dec 08, 2023 7:44 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Caveat
Replies: 2
Views: 7602

Re: Caveat

I came across this use of "caveat" as a verb in The Guardian Solomonov has publicly sought to caveat his support for Israel. “I personally believe in the right of Palestinians to have their own state, and the right for self-determination, and I don’t deny those things,” he said at an event...
by bnjtokyo
Tue Dec 05, 2023 8:00 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Bate
Replies: 6
Views: 14722

Re: Bate

Also a falconry term:
bate, to, (and bating), to beat the wings impatiently, to flutter; an abortive attempt to leave the fist or perch by jump- ing or flapping the wings but being restrained by the leash or jesses.

A falcon that has bated from the perch is a miserable looking bird.
by bnjtokyo
Tue Dec 05, 2023 7:33 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Unawares
Replies: 10
Views: 16744

Re: Unawares

I'll be in San Antonio TX for the total eclipse on April 8. Is anyone else planning to dance in the shadow of the moon?
by bnjtokyo
Tue Dec 05, 2023 7:17 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Schmooze
Replies: 8
Views: 13387

Re: Schmooze

I meant the book, in the sense of "a chat, gossip." Remember the first line: "Call me Ishmael."

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