Re: Natural Order of Events

2009/1/28 David J. Peterson <dedalvs@...>:
> On Jan 28, 2009, at 3∞08 PM, Chris Peters wrote:
>
>> There are multiple Japanese verbs that translate to the English "to wear",
>> depending on how you put on the particular item of clothing.  On the head
>> like a hat; around the body like a coat; pull up like pants, etc.
>
> One of my favorite lost English pairs is the following:
>
> to don/to doff
>
> Meaning "to put on (a hat)" and "to remove (a hat)".  They're
> so wonderfully specific, and oddly look as if they're morphologically
> related (what's the etymology?  It looks like "d" + "on" and "d" + "off").
I've heard it used for coats as well. I certainly wouldn't use it for
any clothing besides a hat or a coat, though, even other outerwear
(gloves, scarves, goggles, that sort of thing).

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