Comments on: Etymology and Scandal

By: Paul Peterson

Paul Peterson — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:17:46 +0000

About the Swedish “kul,” I had always assumed it was a borrowing from English, maybe some hippie-ish jargon brought over through late 60’s anti-war protest music. But lo and behold, I read “kul” in a 1950’s Swedish novel, and my whole world was shattered. As a Swedish teacher, it is definitely cool that “kul” was cool in Scandinavia before cool was cool in English. I’m now taking a deep breath. This was definitely a very cool way to end last year. May there be many more.

By: Nathan Carlson

Nathan Carlson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:20:14 +0000

“Arrogant, impudent, but breathtakingly bold!”

This phrase reads like the advertising tag for a cologne or a whiskey. Or perhaps a cologne that smells like whiskey.

By: RL

RL — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:56:05 +0000

Another, later example, from Gissing: New Grub Street (1891):

‘I want to know what is to be the end of it all? I’ve no doubt it’s uncommonly pleasant for Reardon to shift his responsibilities on to our shoulders. At this rate I think I shall get married, and live beyond my means until I can hold out no longer, and then hand my wife over to her relatives, with my compliments. It’s about the coolest business that ever came under my notice.’

By: anonymous

anonymous — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:57:06 +0000

A caller on Midmorning asked about the word honjak (not sure of the spelling) I believe this is a Czech word (Bohemian to be more precise) for a hairy, unkempt man.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:59:18 +0000

Regarding your comment about the rarity of proper names used as verbs. Here are some more:
hector, guillotine, marcell (after M. Grateau),
gerrmander (Elbridge Gerry), marconi, and tarmac (McAdam).

By: Jim Allaire

Jim Allaire — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:33:40 +0000

A question and two comments;

For years I’ve wondered if spell-check is responsible for the disappearance of the word “pled” (as in “He pled guilty” vs. , the
current, “He pleaded guilty”) and similar words that were in common usage until about twenty or so years ago. Other similar words that seem to have disappeared to be “knelt”, “sunk”, etc.

A comment re: to be Blagojeviched My two favorites are the verbs to “Bork” and to “Gerrymander”.

A comment re: plug-uglies I always thought that this came from a nickname for a derby or bowler type hat “plug hat” and that it was the sort of hat the Plug-Uglies (a Baltimore street gang) wore in there there activities in support of the “Know Nothings” in the 1850s.

By: Anne Ulmer

Anne Ulmer — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:39:07 +0000

It mas such a treat to start the new year by listening to you on MidMorning– frequently I get only a tantalizing taste of the program and have to get out of the car. But today I enjoyed a cup of tea and your discussion with Keri Miller.
As a fellow German prof, I have to agree with your assessment of “cutting edge” and “interdisciplinary.” It’s nice to hear somebody express skepticism about those phrases.
Happy New Year — and thanks for all you do!