"daughter-not-in-law"

Wilson Gray wilson.gray at RCN.COM
Wed Jan 5 19:27:07 UTC 2005


On Jan 5, 2005, at 11:52 AM, Thomas Paikeday wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Thomas Paikeday <thomaspaikeday at SPRINT.CA>
> Subject:      "daughter-not-in-law"
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> Is the above word current enough to be used in print without =
> explanation? I saw it on the "Facts & Arguments" page in this
> morning's =
> Globe & Mail ("Canada's national newspaper"). I e-mailed Michael =
> Kesterton who edits the page and he cops out saying it is a joke.
>
> I naturally Googled it first and there is one occurrence where it is =
> used and explained within brackets as "son's girl friend."
>
> A very useful word, I think.
>
> TOM PAIKEDAY
> www.paikeday.net
>

This is new to me. But I do recall "roommate-in-law,"
"girlfriend-in-law," and "boyfriend-in-law," all with the meaning of "a
roommate's or housemate's significant other," from the '70's.

-Wilson  Gray



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