The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #63286 Message #1026450
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
29-Sep-03 - 07:35 PM
Thread Name: Maritime term 'Mother Carey'
Subject: RE: Maritime term 'Mother Carey'
The Mater cara derivation is from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. I have my doubts- I think the connection is fortuitous. The American Heritage Dictionary has a number of questionable interpretations.
1767- The name applied to petrels by sailors. Carteret- In Hawkesworth's Voyage. OED.
In 1864, in the Athenaeum, it was defined as sailor's slang for snow. Also spelled Cary. Oxford English Dictionary.