LL-L: "Etymology" [E] LOWLANDS-L, 20.AUG.1999 (01)

[Sandy Fleming]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 20.AUG.1999 (01) * ISSN 1089-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: John M. Tait [jmtait at jmt.prestel.co.uk]
Subject: "Etymology"

Ron wrote:

 When I started living in the US I
>was constantly amazed about what I then considered excessive prudishness.
I
>wasn't even allowed to use the word 'hell' , nor 'ass' in polite company
...

In Scots, the word is 'erse'. The story goes that the Aberdeen numberplate
registration was due to change to ARS, but some (presumably not local)
official person decided that this would be offensive, so it was changed to
ERS instead...

John M. Tait.

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