[Bards] Dragon vs. Carriage (was Sorry to ask)

[Jay Rudin]

Michael Silverhands wrote:

> Am I the only one who cringes when people use fantasy terms when
> perfectly period terms are available for use?

No, it bothers me too, but occasionally we wind up having to learn 
something from it.

> For example, some folks say "smalls" (which in period meant
> "underwear") when "children" is a perfectly period term. "Has anyone
> seen my smalls? They've gone missing!" <- takes on an entirely
> different meaning, eh?

You know, I used to make this mistake, too, until I looked it up.

Unfortunately, the word "small" was also used to mean children from the 
1200s to the 1500s, according to the OED.  Wyclif's Bible gives Matthew 18, 
6 as "who so sclaundrith oon of these smale, that bileuen in me."  It was 
children, not underwear, that believed.

I don't like the usage, but I can't deny its authenticity.

> Likewise "dragon" instead of "car", "wagon" or "carriage"? It makes
> me feel like I've accidentally wandered into a fantasy convention
> instead of a group of historical re-enactors. I keep expecting to see
> someone in a Harry Potter outfit, with all this talk about sick
> dragons... ;-)

Agreed.  Travelling to tourneys, and having children, are not new ideas. 
They happened in the Middle Ages and Renaissance as well.

> Not meaning to put anyone down... just trying to point something out,
> hoping to change it, hoping to lift us all up (as a community)...
>
> I know that this is a modern, informal message board that has little
> (if anything) to do with the atmosphere we strive to create at
> events... but, still... *cringe*

Actually, it is important to catch it here.  If it had nothing to do with 
how people spoke at events, they would say "car".  In fact, the only reason 
to call it a dragon on a list is because that's what they would call it at 
an event.

Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin