LL-L "Idiomatica" 2007.06.17 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

=======================================================================

 L O W L A N D S - L * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226

 http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands.list at gmail.com

 Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/rules.php

 Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org - lowlands.list at gmail.com

 Commands ("signoff lowlands-l" etc.): listserv at listserv.net

 Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html

 Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html

 Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]

 Administration: lowlands.list at gmail.com or sassisch at yahoo.com


 You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
 To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
 text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
 sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.


 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
 L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
 S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West) Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)

=======================================================================

L O W L A N D S - L  -  16 June 2007 - Volume 05

 ========================================================================

From: Sandy Fleming <sandy at scotstext.org>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2007.06.17 (03) [E/LS]

> From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Idiomatica

> Further on the semantic spread of loans of French commode:
>
> German has Kommode 'chest of drawers', 'bureau'
> Somewhat old-fashioned American English "commode" is used as a taboo
> replacement for "toilet".
>
These two things seem to me to be related because in (just British?)
English, a "commode" is a cabinet with a toilet in it (that is, just a
bowl that can be removed and cleaned out), which was brought to an
invalid and opened up so they could sit in it and do their business
without having to use the stairs or else leave their room.

I don't know how things are done now, but when I was a student earning
extra cash as a nursing auxiliary in the 1970's, every ward had a
"commode" which could be wheeled in for those too infirm to go to the
toilet or perform the peculiar sort of yoga necessary in using a bedpan.

Do you really mean that this word is used in American English as a
euphemism? If someone told me they were going to use the commode, my
eyebrows would be raised!

Sandy Fleming
http://scotstext.org/

----------

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Idiomatica

Hi, Sandy! Look whom the cat dragged in!

> Do you really mean that this word is used in American English as a
euphemism? If someone told me they were going to use the commode, my
eyebrows would be raised!

I've never heard it used that way. Old-fashioned as well as enduring
euphemisms for that include "to go to/visit the
bathroom/washroom/powder-room," "to wash one's hands," "to freshen up," "to
visit the girls'/boy's/lady's/men's (room)," "to see a man about a horse,"
...

I associate "commode" for (ordinary) "toilet" with American east coast
dialects (also "turlet" in and around New York and New Jersey). The focus
here is on the physical object; e.g., "There's a commode behind the
partition," "They had to replace the sink and the commode," "Our dog loves
to drink from the commode," "You have an unobstructed view of the islands
when you sit on the commode," "Even the commode is made of gold" ...

Hope this clarified it.

I guess it all still boils down to "convenience" < "convenient."

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

•

==============================END===================================

 * Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.

 * Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.

 * Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.

 * Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l")

   are to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at

   http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.

*********************************************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lowlands-l/attachments/20070617/5cb6ac12/attachment.htm>