Sven Golly
Moving
"In the night you hide from the madman you're longing to be"
Posts: 800
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Post by Sven Golly on Mar 25, 2004 22:49:06 GMT
Shoot me.
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Post by brillo69 on Mar 25, 2004 23:20:40 GMT
Unless I'm very much mistaken, Paul had a post on this thread - an explanation of the phrase " Daft as a Brush ". I've just noticed it's absence whilst reviewing the thread. Did you delete this Paul? Or have you been censored..
Actually, as I look again, it seems that 2 of his posts have gone. The daft as a brush post is missing in its entirety, and the Sleep Tight reply is only referenced in a quote. I haven't deleted them. Didn't have any reason to neither.
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Post by Adey on Mar 26, 2004 0:45:31 GMT
Hey, seems a bit drastic. Sometimes we go a bit too far, I've done it myself. Peace.
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Sven Golly
Moving
"In the night you hide from the madman you're longing to be"
Posts: 800
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Post by Sven Golly on Mar 26, 2004 0:49:27 GMT
Ditto
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Sven Golly
Moving
"In the night you hide from the madman you're longing to be"
Posts: 800
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Post by Sven Golly on May 10, 2004 23:56:30 GMT
Does anyone know the origin of the word and term 'berserk'? Think Middle-Ages.
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Post by brillo69 on May 12, 2004 1:25:54 GMT
Does anyone know the origin of the word and term 'berserk'? Think Middle-Ages. Not my words but this is what I've managed to dig up. The word berserk is thought to mean "bear sark", a sark being a "shirt", and sark is still a word in the Scandinavian languages for "shirt". It is believed to refer to the cloak of bear skin which was the only garment worn by berserkers in battle. The battle-frenzy of the berserkers resembles that described of certain Celtic heroes in that they were as dangerous to their own side as to their enemy. As for mind-altering drugs, there is no record of the Celts using such, but some historians have suggested that berserkers may have eaten the fly-agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria).
Speaking of skimpy clothing, the word sark entered Scottish English and occurs in Robert Burns' poem Tam O'Shanter. Tam espies a beautiful young witch, dancing in the woods wearing only a cutty sark (a "short shirt"). According to the poem, she spotted Tam who rode off on his horse. Tam only just escaped by galloping across a stream. Apparently (at least according to Scottish folklore) witches can't cross running water. The witch did, however, manage to hang onto the horse's tail. In the days of the tea clippers a sailing ship called The Cutty Sark was the fastest vessel in the world. Its figurehead was the witch of Burns' poem, holding a horse's tail. Although the figurehead was carved out of wood, the horse's tail was real and was replaced after each voyage.
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Post by brillo69 on May 12, 2004 1:57:28 GMT
Whilst searching for information for the origin of the word and term 'Berserk', I came across a site of English words that are borrowed from other languages. I would like to if I may, start a sub topic within this thread of commonly used English words that are borrowed from other languages. I will post on regular occassions a few words and if anybody is game, I would like you to tell what country/ Language the word originates from. Am I Ok to do this Sven?
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Sven Golly
Moving
"In the night you hide from the madman you're longing to be"
Posts: 800
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Post by Sven Golly on May 12, 2004 2:53:18 GMT
Not my words but this is what I've managed to dig up. The word berserk is thought to mean "bear sark", a sark being a "shirt", and sark is still a word in the Scandinavian languages for "shirt". It is believed to refer to the cloak of bear skin which was the only garment worn by berserkers in battle. The battle-frenzy of the berserkers resembles that described of certain Celtic heroes in that they were as dangerous to their own side as to their enemy. As for mind-altering drugs, there is no record of the Celts using such, but some historians have suggested that berserkers may have eaten the fly-agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria).
Speaking of skimpy clothing, the word sark entered Scottish English and occurs in Robert Burns' poem Tam O'Shanter. Tam espies a beautiful young witch, dancing in the woods wearing only a cutty sark (a "short shirt"). According to the poem, she spotted Tam who rode off on his horse. Tam only just escaped by galloping across a stream. Apparently (at least according to Scottish folklore) witches can't cross running water. The witch did, however, manage to hang onto the horse's tail. In the days of the tea clippers a sailing ship called The Cutty Sark was the fastest vessel in the world. Its figurehead was the witch of Burns' poem, holding a horse's tail. Although the figurehead was carved out of wood, the horse's tail was real and was replaced after each voyage.
Good response Paul. I had to quote you and change the color to read it though. I would add that donning the 'bearshirt' would allow the wearer to assume the viscious nature of the beast, without being as responsible for their actions. However, the practice became part of the 'possesion' and werewolf hysteria. People that 'consorted with the devil' were persecuted and even killed by the Catholic Church and society as a whole. BTW it is fine with me if you continue on your sub topic.
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Post by Adey on May 12, 2004 2:56:53 GMT
Not my words but this is what I've managed to dig up. The word berserk is thought to mean "bear sark", a sark being a "shirt", and sark is still a word in the Scandinavian languages for "shirt". It is believed to refer to the cloak of bear skin which was the only garment worn by berserkers in battle. The battle-frenzy of the berserkers resembles that described of certain Celtic heroes in that they were as dangerous to their own side as to their enemy. As for mind-altering drugs, there is no record of the Celts using such, but some historians have suggested that berserkers may have eaten the fly-agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria).
Speaking of skimpy clothing, the word sark entered Scottish English and occurs in Robert Burns' poem Tam O'Shanter. Tam espies a beautiful young witch, dancing in the woods wearing only a cutty sark (a "short shirt"). According to the poem, she spotted Tam who rode off on his horse. Tam only just escaped by galloping across a stream. Apparently (at least according to Scottish folklore) witches can't cross running water. The witch did, however, manage to hang onto the horse's tail. In the days of the tea clippers a sailing ship called The Cutty Sark was the fastest vessel in the world. Its figurehead was the witch of Burns' poem, holding a horse's tail. Although the figurehead was carved out of wood, the horse's tail was real and was replaced after each voyage.
I had to abandon this half way through the 1st Paragraph. I wasn't bored, it was just that my eyes fell out.
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Post by Adey on May 12, 2004 3:01:44 GMT
In days gone by, English drinking water apparently contained frogspawn. Hence the saying, " Frog in my throat " .
Also, Victorian breadmaking was sometimes hit and miss. The bottom of the loaf would often be sooty and burned, whilst the top half was golden and perfect. Hence the saying, " The Upper Crust " .
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Sven Golly
Moving
"In the night you hide from the madman you're longing to be"
Posts: 800
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Post by Sven Golly on May 12, 2004 3:06:33 GMT
....Victorian breadmaking was sometimes hit and miss. The bottom of the loaf would often be sooty and burned, whilst the top half was golden and perfect. Hence the saying, " The Upper Crust " . You Brits still haven't mastered making a right decent meal. ;D J/K You know that's the word on the street though.
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Post by brillo69 on May 12, 2004 3:09:42 GMT
I had to abandon this half way through the 1st Paragraph. I wasn't bored, it was just that my eyes fell out. I was experimenting with a colour that I haven't used before.
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Post by brillo69 on May 12, 2004 3:11:36 GMT
BTW it is fine with me if you continue on your sub topic. Ta very much Sven.
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Post by brillo69 on May 12, 2004 3:39:35 GMT
The word 'Welsh' originates from which ancient language? Also what is the meaning of this particular word?
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Post by brillo69 on May 12, 2004 3:43:50 GMT
Also, Victorian breadmaking was sometimes hit and miss. The bottom of the loaf would often be sooty and burned, whilst the top half was golden and perfect. Hence the saying, " The Upper Crust " . Rather like the FishFingers that my mum made me for my tea last night. Golden Brown on the top and burnt to f**k on the bottom. Hmm, chargrilled FishFingers. Yum Yum. ;D
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