Daub (Mud dauber)

William Salmon william.salmon at YALE.EDU
Fri May 16 18:51:34 UTC 2008


> Where I'm from in E TX, this insect, for some reason, is called a
> "dirt [d^It] dauber," though it clearly daubs mud, as any fool can
> plainly see.

They are 'dirt daubers' in South Texas too.

The wikipedia entry for 'mud dauber' also mentions the slightly more
racy 'dirt diver', which I haven't heard. (at least in the insect
context)


>
> On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 10:55 PM, Dave Hause <dwhause at jobe.net> wrote:
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Dave Hause <dwhause at JOBE.NET>
>> Subject:      Re: Daub (Mud dauber)
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> I'm familiar with a wasp called a mud dauber (and that's the only definition
>> in the NOAD by my chair.)  Where does a bird go by that name?  Species?
>> Dave Hause, dwhause at jobe.net
>> Waynesville, MO
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Your Name" <ROSESKES at AOL.COM>
>>
>> "Daub" includes dealing with liquids that way; but consider the bird called
>> a mud-dauber; it daubs a solid (tho somewhat moist) substance.
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>
>
>
>
> --
> All say, "How hard it is that we have to die"---a strange complaint to
> come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
> -----
> -Sam'l Clemens
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>



~Will Salmon

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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