Not a teddy bear

Mon Sep 13 15:55:55 UTC 2010

I didn't mean a taxidermist's full-size bear, as I would never have thought of that possibility either. I  simply meant (for example) even a small, plush bear that had a body resembling that of a real bear more than, say, a human body, would not be considered a teddy bear to me. I think the person who placed the original Freecycle ad had a similar world view.

Lisa Galvin 

> Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:44:19 -0400
> From: wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: Not a teddy bear
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> 
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Not a teddy bear
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 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:
> 
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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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
> >
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > =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
> > -----------------=
> > ------
> > > 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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> 
> 
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