LL-L "Etymology" 2004.08.12 (12) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 12.AUG.2004 (12) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: john feather <johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Etymology

I can't resist passing this on - hot off the press (or at least the boob
tube).

I heard a TV speaker say "midrift" for "midriff". "Riff" comes from OE
"hrif" = belly, but your "midriff" is exposed via a gap in your clothes so
"midrift" sounds plausible. Folk etymology in action if it catches on.

BTW, in the UK "boob tube" is a sort of tight cropped garment worn by women
on the upper part of their bodies. In the US I think it is a normally a
derogatory term for TV, the medium. Is that right?

The song "Video killed the radio stars" was essentially incomprehensible in
the UK because to us "video" means "video recording", in various senses, eg
"I watched a video", "The film went straight to video". Is the term "video"
for television - the meaning used in the song - actually used at all widely
in the US or elsewhere?

John Feather
johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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From: Ruth & Mark Dreyer <mrdreyer at lantic.net>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.08.12 (01) [E]

Hi, All

Subject: LL-L "Etymology

> Snaak_ comes from Middle Saxon _snake_, being obviously related to English
_snake_ (< Old
> English _snaca_) and Old Norse _snákr_.

Of course a 'snake' 'sneaks' (snican - creep, crawl) on its belly. [The
Student's Dictionary of ANGLO SAXON, by H. Sweet.]

Yrs,
Mark

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