I am afraid you are mistaken, my dear Hawk. And I woudl have thought by now you would do your homework on etymological issues before calling me out.

1. Both spellings are frequently used in the phrase "presidential timber"
2. Timber is sometimes accepted as an alternate spelling of "timbre".
3. Timbre refers tothe quality of sound, usuallyin the context of an instrument's sound production qualities.
4. Timber refers to construction, wooden members above a certain size, the wood from which something can be built.

It is pretty obviosu the original phrase was not referring to the degree of bass overtones in a candidate's voice, but rather the degree to which he was sufficiently sturdy to stand up to the challenging task of Presidency.

Therefore, "timber" is probably the original word used in the expression. And even if it were not, the spelling is still acceptable.,

Thus I refute, rebut, reject, and return your objection to you as futile, facile, void, virtueless, inappropriate and inapplicable to the present circumstance, sirrah.


A