LL-L "Etymology" 2003.02.19 (11) [E]

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From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "What does it mean?" 2003.02.19 (07) [E]
Where does the word "freak" come from? In its current form (to mean bizarre,
strange, outlandish) it always struck me as an American import into Non-US
Englishes. Is this the case? If so, is it a borrowing?

In Nottingham English, the usage of "freak" to mean "unexpected" (accident,
happening, etc.) is taken by "mad" - e.g., "tha wurra mad accident, that
wo..." and "Tha wo mad... a jus can't explain that ut oll."

Go raibh maith agat

Criostóir.


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