The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #114361   Message #2524828
Posted By: Nigel Parsons
26-Dec-08 - 05:00 AM
Thread Name: BS: When did 'forbid' become 'forfend'?
Subject: RE: BS: When did 'forbid' become 'forfend'?
We have had numerous postings showing that 'for' or 'fore' mean 'to the front'. In American usage, surely the fact that cars do not have 'bumpers' then they have a 'forefender' and a 'rearfender'.
These (as they might say in the Southern states) are De fenders!

'Fore' is also a very useful word for getting a lot of meaning into a single word, it means 'I've just hit a golf ball and anyone in front of me (to the fore) should be alert'

Lovely language this, innit?