Prescriptivism and descriptivism: vegetarian, vegan and dairy

[Benjamin Barrett]

On Feb 4, 2012, at 3:39 PM, Laurence Horn wrote:

> On Feb 4, 2012, at 5:34 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
> 
>> On Feb 4, 2012, at 1:49 PM, Laurence Horn wrote:
>> 
>>> On Feb 4, 2012, at 3:54 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>>> 
>>>> 1. vegetarian
>>>> 
>>>> Vegetarians may be ovo-, lacto-, pesco- or other sorts, but only "vegetarian" is found in the OED. The AHD has them, but only with a hyphen. Wiktionary has reasonably good coverage.
>>>> 
>>> Of course ovo- and lacto- (and ovo-lacto-) vegetarians are also vegetarians in the usual sense, while pesco-vegetarians (or pesky-, as some of my acquaintance call themselves) aren't.
>> 
>> The "usual sense" is the issue in all of these items. I agree with you that pesco- and gallivegetarians (?)
> 
> cock-o-vegetarians?
> 
>> don't really fit the usual sense despite being widespread.
>> 
>>>> Also, the OED defines "vegan" to be only in connection with eating. The AHD and Wiktionary also cover non-food use of animal products, which is very frequently part-and-parcel of this definition.
>>>> 
>>> Right: leather-wearing in particular.  And of course honey-eating, but that's food use.
>> 
>> Good point. Honey should probably be included in the definition somewhere as some vegans eat it even though it's an animal product.
>> 
> melo-vegetarians?


There is some speculation about this, including mel and melo.

http://cpanel14.newmediaexpress.com/~vegetari/my_forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=3308&view=next
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081013095427AATboTt
http://vegetarian.livejournal.com/3032149.html (including a wit who suggests the word "beegan"
http://www.foodaq.com/html/Vegetarian-Vegan/201977.html

I'm not holding my breath, but maybe it will catch on as the vegan movement grows...

BB
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