[Loch-Ruadh] Word of the Day, April 1
Cait O'Hara
lady_cait at lycos.com
Wed Apr 3 12:33:48 PST 2002
sleeveless
In general use, paltry, petty, frivolous, vain or unprofitable. Of errands, ending in, or leading to, nothing; having no adequate result or cause. Very common circa 1580-1700; sometimes used of pretended errands [sleeveless errands] on which a person is sent merely to be out of the way for a time.
-- Sir James Murrays New English Dictionary, 1919
[As] the meaning of the expression, to sleeve a two, appears plainly to be to twist or unfold [silk thread] so subtle that it is difficult to untwist it, sleeveless then should seem to mean that which cannot be unfolded or explained.
-- John Brands Observations on Popular Antiquites, 1813
April Day
In Scotland, upon April Day, they have a custom of hunting the gowk
properly a cuckoo, and is used here, metaphorically in vulgar language, for a fool. This is done by sending silly people upon fools errands from place to place, by means of a letter in which it is written: On the first day of April, Hunt the gowk another mile.
-- John Brands Observations on Popular Antiquities, 1813
Easter Monday (Canada, U.K.)
---
Never meddle in the affairs of dragons;
For you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
-- Acacia
See Dave Matthews Band live or win a signed guitar
http://r.lycos.com/r/bmgfly_mail_dmb/http://win.ipromotions.com/lycos_020201/splash.asp
More information about the Loch-Ruadh
mailing list