The term “bootleg” originated from the late 19th century smuggler’s practice of concealing a bottle of liquor between his (or her) boot and his leg.
Credit to Marisa Christensen for finding the origin.
Category: Historical
Morton’s Fork
We’ve all talked about a Hobson’s Choice when we are on the horns of a dilemma. But we got it wrong. A Hobson’s Choice is no real choice (pay your taxes or go to jail). What we really have is a Morton’s Fork.
Look it up.
A fanatic
A fanatic is one who won’t change his mind and can’t change the subject.
Winston Churchill
Definition of politics
Here is a definition of “politics” that I like. It’s kind of sad, because it fits so well.
“Poli” Latin meaning many. “Tics” meaning blood sucking vermin.
Trivia
Here’s a trivia question for you. What is the etymology of the word trivia? Maybe this will surprise you.
The word is derived from the roman words tre and via (three roads) and alluded to a meeting place. That led to the connotation of commonplace.
That in turn led to its use to refer to the study of grammar, rhetoric and logic in the English public schools, an undergraduate curriculum, in which no graduate student could be interested. They were trivial. The real subjects, the more challenging ones, were arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy.
Clap Trap
“Clap trap” of course means nonsense, but the derivation of the term is interesting. It is a political term. When a politician ends a speech, the will say something sure to bring applause, such as “God bless America,” hence a clap trap.
Washington’s Whiskey
It is not widely known that George Washington made and sold Scotch whiskey to raise cash after his presidency. He was short of cash to run the farm and provide for his family. The endeavor was a smashing success. The distillery became one of the largest in the United States at the time.
The Days
I love thinking about things we take for granted (when I remember). Have you ever thought of the days of the week?
Here they are:
Monday Moon day
Tuesday Tyr’s day. Tyr was the one armed Norse god associated with single combat.
Wednesday Wodin’s day. The ruler of the Norse god’s realm. Also Odin.
Thursday Thor’s day. Okay, you got that one.
Friday Frigga’s day. The wife of Wodin. Pretty nifty women’s equality.
Saturday Saturn’s day
Sunday Sun’s day
Browning
This from Robert Browning (everyone knows the first part):
If a man’s reach does not exceed his grasp, what is heaven for?
And this:
Browning was teaching a class one day and a woman raised her hand. “Professor Browning,” she said. “I love your poetry and I have read all your poems. There is one line, however, I just don’t understand.” She quoted the line. “Can you tell me what you meant?”
Browning considered the question for a moment. Then he said, “You know, when I wrote that line only God and I knew what it meant.” He paused, then continued, “Now only God knows.”
Four-flusher
The term “four-flusher” originally meant a card cheat on a river boat who would claim a poker pot by showing four cards of a suit, with a fifth card of another suit hidden behind the other four.
David Gersh 