Re: VOCABULARY AID: Basic and Additional Vocabulary (topics 1 - 10)

Andreas Johansson scripsit:

> For what's it's worth, the Big Dipper is _karlavagnen_ in Swedish, an archaic
> formation meaning the "the waggon of Charles". The Charles in question has been
> identified as Charlemagne; I do not know how certain this is.
I find two theories: the Charlemagne one, and the idea that "Charles" is a
corruption of "carles", meaning "freeman's" (or "churl's).

ObScure:  The ballad "Sweet William's Ghost" (Child 77) has the line
"O cocks are crowing a merry midd-larf", the last word of which (Tom
Shippey says) is a corruption of "Middle-earth"!

--
Yes, chili in the eye is bad, but so is your    John Cowan
ear.  However, I would suggest you wash your    jcowan@reutershealth.com
hands thoroughly before going to the toilet.    http://www.reutershealth.com
        --gadicath                              http://www.ccil.org/~cowan

Reply