Stuart Ablett
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Domo domo! 
Tod's Top Tip!
- Thread starter Duncan Cheslett
- Start date
Don Taylor
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Just my two "yen's" worth, but I'd rather hear the various different "vernacular", as I think it broadens everyone's horizons.Just my opinion mind you.....
I agree whole heartedly Duncan. I am just a heinz 57 variety American however, I will be the first to admit that it is we Yanks that butcher the English language the most.
We have enough Brits around here to have one close most any time we would need to say Huh?
(No Stu, you can't start speaking Japanese!)
DT
Bill Lantry
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Duncan,
"(God help me) 'Rabbet' instead of 'rebate'"
I wouldn't worry about that one too much, it ain't even english. Rushing to my handy-dandy copy of the OED online, I find this:
Rebate, also rabbate. (and rabbet)
Diminution; lessening, drawing in.
1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie II. xi. (Arb.) 109 In his altitude he wil require diuers rabates to hold so many sizes of meetres.
another click gives this:
Also rabbate. [a. OF. rabat, rabbat n. to rabattre: see next
which gives: Also 6 rabbate. [a. F. rabattre to beat down
so not only is it not an english word, we can't even say it's french, since it's old french. Nuance...
in other words, re-battre means 'if you didn't make it deep enough the first time, just smack it again with the hammer'
Thanks,
Bill
"(God help me) 'Rabbet' instead of 'rebate'"
I wouldn't worry about that one too much, it ain't even english. Rushing to my handy-dandy copy of the OED online, I find this:
Rebate, also rabbate. (and rabbet)
Diminution; lessening, drawing in.
1589 PUTTENHAM Eng. Poesie II. xi. (Arb.) 109 In his altitude he wil require diuers rabates to hold so many sizes of meetres.
another click gives this:
Also rabbate. [a. OF. rabat, rabbat n. to rabattre: see next
which gives: Also 6 rabbate. [a. F. rabattre to beat down
so not only is it not an english word, we can't even say it's french, since it's old french. Nuance...
in other words, re-battre means 'if you didn't make it deep enough the first time, just smack it again with the hammer'
Thanks,
Bill
Last edited:
Ned Bulken
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Domo domo!
I agree whole heartedly Duncan. I am just a heinz 57 variety American however, I will be the first to admit that it is we Yanks that butcher the English language the most.
We have enough Brits around here to have one close most any time we would need to say Huh?
(No Stu, you can't start speaking Japanese!)
DT
too late!
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Eh, we have enough Japanese around here. This week, I'd say 謝謝 or 谢谢, depending on if you prefer traditional Chinese, or simplified Chinese.
Ian Barley
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So come on Bill - what does the OED have for "twopennorth". And also - "it ain't even english? - from a (recovering) English professor? Miss Jones my primary school teacher will be spinning in her grave.
Frank Fusco
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Glenn
twopennerth = two pennys worth. At the current exchange rate it is approximately equivalent to saying "my 1.625 cents worth" but I'm sure that you will agree that this lacks the same rhythm and poetry
(I have assumed that Duncan, like myself, is referring to a pre-decimalisation twopennorth which effectively represented 1/120th of a pound sterling)
Yes, but isn't a thruppence worth a more expert opinion?
Mark Kosmowski
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At the risk of bringing this thread back on topic, it has given me some good ideas - thanks for posting it!