LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.08 (08) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 08.SEP.2004 (08) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org or lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================
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)
=======================================================================

From: Brooks, Mark <mark.brooks at twc.state.tx.us>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.08 (07) [E]

Gabrielle asked:
"Is "varsity" used for anything else in the English language?"

Yes, I believe it is.  One would be the "varsity bookstore" which is the
bookstore affiliated with a university.  It's not a bookstore for jocks.  I
just checked a dictionary here at my office, and it says that "varsity"
comes from a shortened form the word "university" in which the "e" changes
to "a" for some reason that wasn't explained.

Mark Brooks

----------

From: Gustaaf van Moorsel <gvanmoor at aoc.nrao.edu>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.08 (07) [E]

Gabriele write:

> there is one word in the English langauge that has puzzled me for years,
> because I have no idea where it comes from and what it is really supposed
to
> mean, although I more or less know what it designates.
>
>  The word is "varsity", and it seems to be used for the No. 1 sports teams
> of schools and universities. There is no German equivalent, of course,
since
> German schools and universities do not have sports teams.
>
> Is there a similar word in other Lowlands languages? Is "varsity" used for
> anything else in the English language? And what's the etymology? My best
> guess is that it could be of Latin origin, but beyond that I have no idea.

In Dutch, the word 'varsity' is used for a rowing race between
university teams (or rather a particular yearly recurring trad-
itional rowing contest).  Although, like in Germany, Dutch uni-
versities do not have sports teams like in the US, rowing is
popular among students, and I have always assumed 'varsity' is
a variant of 'university', perhaps mimicking a certain pronun-
ciation or accent.

Gustaaf

----------

From: Hugo Zweep <hugo.zweep at valuersillawarra.com.au>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.08 (07) [E]

Gabriele
I reply with some diffidence because, to borrow from and paraphrase John
Feather, I am usually bowled over by your erudition so lightly cloaked in
humour and intuitive perception. But I had always thought that varsity was
simply an affectionate mutation of university. Sure enough, Oxford says it
is a clipped version of university and dates it to 1846.

Hugo Zweep

==============================END===================================
* Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
  to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at
  http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================