=======================================================================
<p>
L O W L A N D S - L * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
<p>
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands.list@gmail.com
<p>
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/rules.php
<p>
Posting: lowlands-l@listserv.linguistlist.org - lowlands.list@gmail.com
<p>
Commands ("signoff lowlands-l" etc.): listserv@listserv.net
<p>
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
<p>
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
<p>
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
<p>
Administration: lowlands.list@gmail.com or sassisch@yahoo.com
<p>
<p>
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@listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
<p>
<p>
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 (Zeeuws)
<p>
=======================================================================
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">L O W L A N D S - L - 12 September 2007 - Volume 04</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Song Contest: <a href="http://lowlands-l.net/contest/">lowlands-l.net/contest/</a> (- 31 Dec. 2007)</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
========================================================================</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">From: Danette & John Howland <
<a href="mailto:dan_how@msn.com">dan_how@msn.com</a>></span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Subject: LL-L "Grammar" 2007.09.12 (03) [E]</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><div style="margin-left: 40px; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" size="2">Does anyone know when the word <em>battery</em>
in the sense of electrical storage devices became singular?</font><br><br><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" size="2">Thanks,</font><br><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" size="2">John</font><br><br>Hmm. Can't track the date down, but
of course when Volta invented the device, it was an electrical cell.
Lining them up in rows made for more power, and by a fancied
resemblance to a row of cannons, the array was called a "battery".
When the term referred to a single cell I'm not sure - but of course it
hasn't completely replaced it anyway - we have D-cells, AAA cells etc.
And "Wordsworth's Dictionary of Science and Technology" still defines
"battery" as a collection, not one.<span>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;"> </div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;">Paul Finlow-Bates</div></span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;"> </div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;"> Thanks for the info, Paul.</div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;">I recall reading that the multitalented
Ben Franklin coined the term to describe an array of Leyden jar storage
devices, not the later Voltaic piles. It seems noteworthy, though not
surprising, that the term came to refer to a single power cell.</div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;"> </div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;"> Another plural form for a single object I can think of is <em>tweezers</em>.
In my youth I only heard it spoken of as "a pair of tweezers." Recently
I have heard "a tweezer." This sounds a little odd to my ear but seems
perfectly logical.</div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;"> </div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;"> Be well. John H.<br><br>----------<br><br>From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">sassisch@yahoo.com
</a>><br>
Subject: Grammar<br><br>Thanks a lot for the "tweezer," John. That's another one I've heard. Here's another couple: "tong" instead of "tongs," and "pincer" instead of "pincers."
<br><br>It's great to have you in the speakers' corner, John.<br><br>Regards,<br>Reinhard/Ron<br></div></span></div><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
•
<p>
==============================END===================================
<p>
* Please submit postings to lowlands-l@listserv.linguistlist.org.
<p>
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
<p>
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
<p>
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l")
<p>
are to be sent to listserv@listserv.linguistlist.org or at
<p>
http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
<p>
*********************************************************************