another fake acronym

[Michael Quinion]

Evan Morris wrote:

> I've been receiving queries about this fable for about two years,
> second only to "Life in the 1500s" in popularity.  Unfortunately,
> since my output is primarily destined for newspaper release (in some
> very conservative venues), I've never been able to give it the
> thrashing it deserves.  I do respond to individuals by email, but
> that's like bailing with a sieve.

Yes, I've been getting copies regularly sent me for about the same
period - since early 2003. Not being under the same constraints, I've
been able to debunk it in my book on folk etymology as well as on the
WWWords site. Hasn't done a bit of good, of course. Some stories are
just too powerful to successfully refute.


--
Michael Quinion
Editor, World Wide Words
E-mail: wordseditor at worldwidewords.org
Web: http://www.worldwidewords.org