Shank's mare

[Wilson Gray]

Upon occasion, I've racked my brain nearly to the point of wrack and ruin.

-Wilson

On Jan 17, 2008 10:29 AM, Geraldine Hizer <Urqu at aol.com> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Geraldine Hizer <Urqu at AOL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Shank's mare
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "Date:    Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:13:17 -0600
> From:     Scot LaFaive <scotlafaive at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Shank's mare
>
> The  Merriam-Webster word of the day for Jan. 16 is "shank's mare." According
> to  MW it's been around at least since the 17th century. I can't check DARE,
> but  I'm mildly curious if it is or was a regionalism in the U.S. Personally,
> I  had never heard of this name for one's own legs before today.
>
> Scot"
>
> I love this expression - have even used it, think it's so colorful. Do  a lot
> of reading (and writing) about medieval England, and I suppose  'shank' would
> also be familiar term to a butcher present-day.
> I'm eager to hear the exchange your letter generates.
> Another query, if I may -
> Does one wrack one's brain, or 'rack' it? As I use the word in  conversation,
> I'm spelling it 'rack', as in the medieval torture  instrument...
> I am loving this Digest:)
> GH
>
>
>
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>
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All say, "How hard it is that we have to die"---a strange complaint to
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                                              -Sam'l Clemens

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