Fw: hippie trivia question

[Yerkes, Susan]

RE: Page Stephens' friend John re: wineskin

I used to have one of those cheesy wineskins, too, John... The goal was
to squeeze it into your mouth from a distance down in Austin, anyway --
dramatic and inebriating-- what more could a collegian wish?
We called them "botas" and that's still how they're referred to
occasionally around here (still selling in souvenir markets, etc.)

Your internet translator isn't so great -- "bota" has a first meaning of
dull, as in a blunt blade -- rather than boring.

But the second meaning (I refer to the Velasquez English-Spanish
dictionary, sorry, can't remember which edition at the moment --)
Is more clear: in rural Spain and Mexico, a "bota" referred to a bag
made from the gut of an animal (sheep or goat) and used to carry butter
to market in hot places; the carrier helped keep the contents cool. It's
easy to see the relationship of that bota to the wineskin, at least, the
non-neoprene cap variety. If you wanted to get cute, I suppose you might
say "goata."

There is another word for wineskin., in particular -- 2 syllables,
starts with an "o" -- but I don't remember using it, though it's more
specifically correct.
And the Velasquez also lists "pellejo de vino" -- a more literal
translation.

Buena suerte,
Susan Yerkes





-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
Of Page Stephens
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 5:52 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Fw: hippie trivia question


I received this in the mail from a friend of mine.

Anyone know the answer?

Page Stephens

Thirty (35?) years ago, everyone I knew had a "wineskin"...a suede,
leather, or synthetic cover over a neoprene or butyl rubber bladder,
with a shoulder cord and a screw lid/spout.  You may remember these.

People used them to transport wine (I am talking about Boone's Farm,
Ripple, Gallo, etc. rather than Chateau d'Yquem) to public events where
bottles were not allowed but personal searches were rather cursory.

What did we call it?  I vaguely recall it had another name from
(Mexican) Spanish...?

If you look it up online now, it is now being marketed as a  "bota."  I
am pretty sure that is a newer name.  My Babelfish translator renders
"bota" as an adjective meaning "dull."  The diminutive form "botilla" is
a bootee.

Please let me know if your memory from that era has fared better than
mine.  If not, well, peace and love to you anyway.

John


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