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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi again Fritz - </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The definition that you quote seems to me a good
one, but I don't think the expression has anything to do with spinning
a yarn (which is a metaphor from the wool trade). It's from </FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2>"putting a spin on [something]", which is, I believe, a
metaphor from either cricket or baseball. </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>I</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>n cricket, unlike baseball, the ball is
allowed to bounce between the bowler (= pitcher) and the batsman (= batter).
Slow bowlers put a lot of spin on the ball, which causes it to change direction
quite dramatically when it bounces, thus deceiving or confusing the
batsman. I believe that in baseball spin causes the ball to swerve in the
air. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm copying this to my former colleague Philip
Durkin at OED; who may be able to say when and where "spin
doctor" originated and indeed whether the metaphor is from cricket or
baseball. (He will, I hope, correct any errors in what I've said here.)
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Patrick Hanks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Fritz_Goerling@sil.org href="mailto:Fritz_Goerling@sil.org">Fritz
Goerling</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=lexicographylist@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:lexicographylist@yahoogroups.com">lexicographylist@yahoogroups.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, May 21, 2004 6:37 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Lexicog] Semantic
extensions</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT size=2><SPAN class=373423016-21052004><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=3>I am interested in the origin of the expression "spin
doctor". Is this a semantic extension or what </FONT></SPAN></FONT></TT></DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><SPAN class=373423016-21052004>has
happend to "spin" in this expression? I found the following
definition:</SPAN></FONT></TT></DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT size=2>a public relations person who tries to forestall
negative publicity by publicizing </FONT></TT></DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT size=2>a favorable interpretation of the words or actions of a
company or political party </FONT></TT></DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT size=2>or famous person; "his title is Director of
Communications but he is just a </FONT></TT></DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT size=2>spin doctor"</FONT><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=373423016-21052004><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></TT></DIV>
<DIV><TT><SPAN class=373423016-21052004><FONT size=2>My hunch is that this is
close to the meaning of "to spin a yarn" (= to tell a
tale).</FONT></SPAN></TT></DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=373423016-21052004></SPAN></FONT></TT> </DIV>
<DIV><TT><FONT size=3><SPAN class=373423016-21052004><FONT size=2>Fritz
Goerling</FONT> </SPAN><BR></DIV></FONT></TT><BR><!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| --><BR>
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