[Lexicog] What is a bat? - natural and unnatural terms

[Peter Kirk]

On 16/08/2004 16:06, Christopher Brewster wrote:

>There is a story I remember that a rodent in Venezuela or somewhere in
>that part of the world spends all its time in the water to the extent
>that the locals have recategorized as fish for fasting purposes (they
>are Catholics). I am not sure whether the church agree or not.
>
>Can someone confirm this?
>
>
>
This reminds me of the "nightingale kebab" (bülbül kəbabı) which I found
on sale in Azerbaijan, where the customers were mostly nominal Muslims.
It was in fact pork. But I don't think anyone actually thought these
pigs could fly and sing! Nevertheless it is an interesting example of
how such a euphemism might find its way into the lexicon.

--
Peter Kirk
peter at qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk at qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/




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