Re: English is a crazy language

Danny Wier wrote:
Tristan wrote:
>> Shouldn't that be 'alrite'? And what's 'furlow'?
>
>d'oh, yes it is "alrite"; there's two changes in the word group that would
>be made: fusion and apostrphe. "Furlow" would replace "furlough", meaning a
>lay-off from a job or an early release from a jail term.
>
Those are relatively recent usages, I think.  For me, the word has mainly
military connotations-- an authorized temporary release from duty-- longer
than a "leave" which is more like a "vacation", but both imply you will
return to duty.....In that sense it seems to be a polite word for "lay-off"
(though I've not actually heard it); a furlough from jail also seems to
imply you will return (wasn't the infamous Willie Horton "on furlough"?), as
opposed to "early release".

>> BTW: What's a parkway? (Dictionary.com seems to be down ATM.)
>
>A type of freeway in a city. Why "park" is in the word I do not know,
unless
>parkways originally led to parks....
>
Possily, or also because originally they had a wide, nicely landscaped
median strip. Or, like the various "parkways" around NYC, because they go
(or once did) though scenic areas.