Re: [romconlang] -able

On Tue, Apr 15, 2008 at 4:47 PM, Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...> wrote:
>  The earliest playing cards in Europe came from the Egyptian Mamelukes;
>  they were much the same as the modern 52-card pack, with the four
>  suits Sticks (Batons), Swords (Scimitars), Coins (Disks, Pentacles),
>  and Cups.  Those same suits were adopted as-is in most of Italy, where
>  Tarot was invented.  European cardmakers in other areas varied the
>  suit scheme, often by reinterpreting (or misinterpreting) the
>  iconography. So Sticks/Batons became Clubs (the synonymous variety)
>  before becoming the modern abstract symbol.   The Germans changed them
>  to Acorns.  Cups became Hearts.  Swords became Spades, which went on
>  to become Leaves in Germany.
... and Coins became Diamonds, which is a pretty common transaction. :)
--
Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>

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