prat(t)

["Alfred W. Tüting"]

 > (David:) Along these lines, my father used to insist that the correct
spelling for the expression "under way", as in "let's get this project
under way", was really "under weigh", as in weighing anchor.  Does
anyone know anything more about that?  I've been laughed at more than
once for perpetuating his idea.<<

This is what Kluge (lc.) tells us:

"unterwegs Adv. älter unterwegen (< *11.Jh., Form < 18. Jh.) Mhd.
unterwegen, mndd. underwege(n), mndl. onderwege(n). Eigentlich 'zwischen
den Wegen' (=between the ways), 'in/auf den Wegen' (=in/on the ways),
nachträglich mit adverbialem Genitiv."


 >(John:) "Way" in the sense of direction of travel, path of movement,
or simply movement is pretty common in nautical contexts, e.g.,I think
the command to commence rowing, or maybe it's just row harder, is "give
way."<<

In Romanian, there's a similar expression too: 'Dã-i drumu!' (lit.:
'give it way') meaning about: Go on!/C'mon!/Hurry up etc. (German: Mach
zu!/Auf geht's!/Los! etc.)



Alfred