Lug

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David Myer
Grand Panjandrum
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Location: Melbourne

Lug

Postby David Myer » Fri Sep 30, 2022 11:31 pm

With so many meanings, I wonder how they are connected.

We know about pulling or dragging and hence presumably, 'luggage'. And a lugger, presumably a ship for carrying freight.

But a sticking-out bit of more or less anything (ears are lugs in British vernacular) is somehow related, presumably.

How it comes to mean an oaf or large and clumsy fellow, I have no idea.

Can the Good Doctor enlighten us?

bbeeton
Senior Lexiterian
Posts: 552
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 11:34 am
Location: Providence, RI

Re: Lug

Postby bbeeton » Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:05 pm

Lugs do also attach wheels to cars or trucks, And stick out.

A car engine will lug (or drag) if driven uphill in too high a gear.

Maybe the large and clumsy fellow is called a lug on the assumption that he's not capable of doing anything particularly complicated.


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