The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #74482   Message #1299899
Posted By: Amos
18-Oct-04 - 02:14 PM
Thread Name: BS: Fun bits of trivia
Subject: RE: BS: Fun bits of trivia
This another crop of un-researched imaginary etymologies with little to recommend it except a certain fun humor. Strait-laced, for example, (NOT straight-laced) means what it says -- tightly constrained by lacing.

Acquiring etymology from the illiterate is certainly a good way to lose the thread of semantic history.

A