Shank's mare

David Donnell David.Donnell at EARTHLINK.NET
Thu Jan 17 16:56:55 UTC 2008


Dear all,

I have coined an original word I would like to submit to the English
Language Authorities for official recognition, a word invented to
describe a recent bad dream I had about a tryst with, let's say, a
woman I would never take home to meet mama:

"skankmare"

If someone would kindly send me the aforementioned Authorities' email
addresses it would be greatly appreciated.

(I beg your pardon, everyone!)

DD
Missourian @ NYC

>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>-----------------------
>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
>Subject:      Re: Shank's mare
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Upon occasion, I've racked my brain nearly to the point of wrack and ruin.
>
>-Wilson
>
>On Jan 17, 2008 10:29 AM, Geraldine Hizer <Urqu at aol.com> wrote:
>>  ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>-----------------------
>>  Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>  Poster:       Geraldine Hizer <Urqu at AOL.COM>
>>  Subject:      Re: Shank's mare
>>
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>  "Date:    Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:13:17 -0600
>>  From:     Scot LaFaive <scotlafaive at GMAIL.COM>
>>  Subject: Shank's mare
>>
>>  The  Merriam-Webster word of the day for Jan. 16 is "shank's
>>mare." According
>>  to  MW it's been around at least since the 17th century. I can't check DARE,
>>  but  I'm mildly curious if it is or was a regionalism in the U.S.
>>Personally,
>>  I  had never heard of this name for one's own legs before today.
>>
>>  Scot"
>>
>>  I love this expression - have even used it, think it's so
>>colorful. Do  a lot
>>  of reading (and writing) about medieval England, and I suppose
>>'shank' would
>>  also be familiar term to a butcher present-day.
>>  I'm eager to hear the exchange your letter generates.
>>  Another query, if I may -
>>  Does one wrack one's brain, or 'rack' it? As I use the word in
>>conversation,
>>  I'm spelling it 'rack', as in the medieval torture  instrument...
>>  I am loving this Digest:)
>>  GH
>>
>>
>>
>>  **************Start the year off right.  Easy ways to stay in shape.
>>  http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
>--
>All say, "How hard it is that we have to die"---a strange complaint to
>come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
>-----
>                                               -Sam'l Clemens
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
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