- Meaning and etymology of the word dockle
I've been reading Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and I came across several uses of the word "dockle", usually in the context of light teasing While I can find some small evidence online o
- Etymology and meaning of the word pizzled
I heard of a term today called "pizzled" and am confused about it as there is a plethora of different definitions for the word I first heard it in a speech by David Shing TNW Europe Conference H
- What is the etymology and meaning of fill your boots?
A quick search yielded At the HMS Victory museum in Portsmouth UK, you can buy a thick leather cup lined with pitch This is a replica of the sailor's mug used on board in Nelson's time, and it was used (among other things) for the rum ration when issued This cup is called a "boot", and when things were good and you got an extra rum ration, sailors were told "Fill Yer Boots"!
- What is the meaning and etymology of scut from scut work?
What is the origin of scut in scut work? According to Merriam-Webster, scut work: routine and often menial labor Probably from medical argot, scut meaning 'junior intern' First known use: circa 1
- What is the meaning and etymology of ruthless?
The meaning of ruthless, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is: Feeling or showing no pity or compassion; pitiless, unsparing, merciless, remorseless The etymology is a thornier issue For ruthless, the etymology provided is simply "ruth n + -less suffix " So, we turn to ruth: The quality of being compassionate; the feeling of sorrow for another; compassion, pity Also with for
- How common is the term boondoggle? And what is its origin?
I’ve only heard it as a verb, but it’s definitely a well-established term The OED says etymology obscure—it has this from Word Study (2 Sept 1935): “Boondoggle was coined for another purpose by Robert H Link of Rochester Through his connection with scouting the word later came into general use as a name given to the braided leather lanyard made and worn by Boy Scouts”; but also
- No head injury is too trivial to ignore
No, the meaning you get at first glance is "you should pay attention to every head injury", but if you parse out the sentence more carefully, and suspend your knowledge of head injuries and triviality, you get "you can ignore all head injuries, because none of them are so trivial that their triviality precludes ignoring them" I think that's the duality the OP was after
- Meaning of the word remarkedly? - English Language Usage Stack Exchange
Remarkedly is a word The Oxford English Dictionary classifies the word as a derived form of "Remarked, adj 1": Marked, conspicuous, noted, notable Now chiefly with modifying adverb For the adverb, the OED collects several examples starting from the 17th century: 1656 N Stephens Plain Calculation Name Number of Beast 181 The time when this Universal [Papal] Headship began visibly and
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