Not a teddy bear

Mon Sep 13 16:09:51 UTC 2010

Hmmmmm.  The more realistic this miniature bear looked, the more it would
seem to belong to a third category: a toylike teaching tool, or something of
that sort.

In *that* case, I'd agree it isn't a "teddy bear," because a "teddy bear" is
primarily a stylized *toy.*  However, I can also imagine a child thinking of
such an item as his teddy, as long as it was a bear.  I've seen plush
animals, standing on all fours, which look more bearlike than the
stereotypical teddy bear but still rather cartoonish as compared to a real
bear.  To me, they're "teddy bears" nonetheless.

JL

I thought the point of difference in the original query was simply the
nature of the stuffing.

On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 11:55 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
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> =20
> I didn't mean a taxidermist's full-size bear=2C as I would never have
> thoug=
> ht of that possibility either. I  simply meant (for example) even a small=
> =2C plush bear that had a body resembling that of a real bear more than=2C
> =
> say=2C a human body=2C would not be considered a teddy bear to me. I think
> =
> the person who placed the original Freecycle ad had a similar world view.
> =20
> Lisa Galvin=20
>
>
>
>                                                  =20
>
>
> =20
>
> > Date: Mon=2C 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
> >=20
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> ------
> > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> > Subject: Re: Not a teddy bear
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
> ------
> >=20
> > The idea that a taxidermist's full-sized=2C stuffed bear might seriously
> =
> be
> > designated a "teddy bear" is so far out that I never even thought of the
> > possibility.
> >=20
> > Stuffed real bear: not a teddy.
> > Stuffed toy bear of any description I can reasonably imagine: teddy.
> >=20
> > JL
> > On Mon=2C Sep 13=2C 2010 at 11:34 AM=2C Lisa Galvin <
> lisagal23 at hotmail.co=
> m> wrote:
> >=20
> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > -----------------------
> > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Poster: Lisa Galvin <lisagal23 at HOTMAIL.COM>
> > > Subject: Re: Not a teddy bear
> > >
> > >
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
> --------
> > >
> > > =3D20
> > > Just for the record=3D2C if anyone is counting=3D2C I am "definantly"
> i=
> n the
> > > "t=3D
> > > eddy-bear is a distinctive type of stuffed toy=3D2C and not the same as
> > > other=3D
> > > types of stuffed bears" camp=3D2C agreeing with Jesse's definition. A
> > > stuff=3D
> > > ed animal resembling an actual bear=3D2C let's say standing on all
> four=
>  legs=3D
> > > =3D2C would not be a teddy bear=3D2C in my (Pacific Northwest USA)
> dial=
> ect
> > > eith=3D
> > > er. A teddy bear is more doll-like than animal-like.
> > > =3D20
> > > Lisa Galvin
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > =3D20
> > >
> > >
> > > =3D20
> > >
> > > > Date: Mon=3D2C 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
> > > >=3D20
> > > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > -----------------=3D
> > > ------
> > > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > > Poster: Jesse Sheidlower <jester at PANIX.COM>
> > > > Subject: Re: Not a teddy bear
> > > >
> > >
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
> --=3D
> > > ------
> > > >=3D20
> > > > To me=3D2C a teddy bear is relatively stiff=3D2C with arms
> > > > outstretched=3D2C and having darkish brown fur. If it is a very
> > > > soft plush bear=3D2C like a Gund=3D2C I would consider it a stuffed
> > > > bear=3D2C but not a teddy bear.
> > > >=3D20
> > > > Jesse Sheidlower
> > > > OED
> > > >=3D20
> > > > On Mon=3D2C Sep 13=3D2C 2010 at 07:18:58AM -0400=3D2C Barbara Need
> wr=
> ote:
> > > > > Can you elaborate? Clearly I have a fairly broad understanding of
> w=
> hat
> > > > > fits in the category of teddy bear!
> > > > >
> > > > > Barbara
> > > > >
> > > > > On 13 Sep 2010=3D2C at 6:49 AM=3D2C Jesse Sheidlower wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> On Mon=3D2C Sep 13=3D2C 2010 at 06:42:52AM -0400=3D2C Barbara
> Need=
>  wrote:
> > > > >>> From a Freecycle posting for stuffed animals:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> "small brown bear (not a teddy bear=3D2C a plush bear)"
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> What is a stuffed bear if not a teddy bear?
> > > > >>
> > > > >> A teddy bear is a pretty specific kind of stuffed bear=3D2C in my
> > > > >> idiolect at least. A soft=3D2C floppy=3D2C plush bear would not
> be=
>  a
> > > > >> teddy bear to me.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Jesse Sheidlower
> > > > >> OED
> > > > >
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