Not a teddy bear

[Jonathan Lighter]

The idea that a taxidermist's full-sized, stuffed bear might seriously be
designated a "teddy bear" is so far out that I never even thought of the
possibility.

Stuffed real bear: not a teddy.
Stuffed toy bear of any description I can reasonably imagine: teddy.

JL
On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 11:34 AM, Lisa Galvin <lisagal23 at hotmail.com> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Lisa Galvin <lisagal23 at HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Not a teddy bear
>
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> =20
> Just for the record=2C if anyone is counting=2C I am "definantly" in the
> "t=
> eddy-bear is a distinctive type of stuffed toy=2C and not the same as
> other=
>  types of stuffed bears" camp=2C agreeing with Jesse's definition.  A
> stuff=
> ed animal resembling an actual bear=2C let's say standing on all four legs=
> =2C would not be a teddy bear=2C in my (Pacific Northwest USA) dialect
> eith=
> er. A teddy bear is more doll-like than animal-like.
> =20
> Lisa Galvin
>
>
>
>                                                  =20
>
>
> =20
>
> > Date: Mon=2C 13 Sep 2010 08:26:58 -0400
> > From: jester at PANIX.COM
> > Subject: Re: Not a teddy bear
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> >=20
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> ------
> > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster: Jesse Sheidlower <jester at PANIX.COM>
> > Subject: Re: Not a teddy bear
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
> ------
> >=20
> > To me=2C a teddy bear is relatively stiff=2C with arms
> > outstretched=2C and having darkish brown fur. If it is a very
> > soft plush bear=2C like a Gund=2C I would consider it a stuffed
> > bear=2C but not a teddy bear.
> >=20
> > Jesse Sheidlower
> > OED
> >=20
> > On Mon=2C Sep 13=2C 2010 at 07:18:58AM -0400=2C Barbara Need wrote:
> > > Can you elaborate? Clearly I have a fairly broad understanding of what
> > > fits in the category of teddy bear!
> > >
> > > Barbara
> > >
> > > On 13 Sep 2010=2C at 6:49 AM=2C Jesse Sheidlower wrote:
> > >
> > >> On Mon=2C Sep 13=2C 2010 at 06:42:52AM -0400=2C Barbara Need wrote:
> > >>> From a Freecycle posting for stuffed animals:
> > >>>
> > >>> "small brown bear (not a teddy bear=2C a plush bear)"
> > >>>
> > >>> What is a stuffed bear if not a teddy bear?
> > >>
> > >> A teddy bear is a pretty specific kind of stuffed bear=2C in my
> > >> idiolect at least. A soft=2C floppy=2C plush bear would not be a
> > >> teddy bear to me.
> > >>
> > >> Jesse Sheidlower
> > >> OED
> > >
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> >=20
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