Just a sidenote on asa's twerp: It may be an eponym! Etymomlogy online says (my emphasis), "the "Dictionary of American Slang" gives a first reference of 1874 (but without citation), which, if correct, would rule out the usual theory that it is from the proper name of T.W. Earp, a student at Oxford c.1911, who kindled wrath "in the hearts of the rugger-playing stalwarts at Oxford, when he was president of the Union, by being the last, most charming, and wittiest of the 'decadents.' "
Five daffynitions received so far; from the four above and Bob Hale. Come on you lot!
Regarding twerp, that's interesting. Wiktionary seems to be the only one to state that there is a difference in UK and US usage. I wouldn't think of defining twerp as "contemptible".
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
In my weakened condition (advancing symptoms of premature middle age) I find it impossible to resist the temptation to seek the "real definition" via Google, Dictionary, or whatever ....
Therefore I recuse.
Posts: 6708 | Location: Kehena Beach, Hawaii, U.S.A.
On further investigation I found a second, quite different, meaning for the word. Your mission, should you care to accept it, is to guess both of the true meanings from the list below.
to twist violently
(slang) An interpreter
a mesophilic starter used in making cheeses
a measure of depth
hip-height of cattle
(Frisian) an artificial mound or hillock, the site of a prehistoric village
a dancer, from Terpsichore, the muse of dance
a flat nail used to temporarily hold a horseshoe in place while the fixing nails are driven into the hoof
an aromatic wood resin
acronym for "Training Exercise Reconnaissance Patrol"
Guess away! And remember, we need two real definitions this time!
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
a flat nail used to temporarily hold a horseshoe in place while the fixing nails are
driven into the hoof
Produced by Bob Hale - guessed by Wordmatic, Asa, bethree5, shu
an aromatic wood resin
Produced by Myth Jellies - guessed by no-one
acronym for "Training Exercise Reconnaissance Patrol"
Produced by Caterwauller - guessed by Bob, shu
Special congratulations to Myth Jellies, who guessed both meanings correctly. Also to Bob, who managed to fool four people with his daffynition.
Those who are more observant than I am will notice that there is a third definition of the word on Tsuwm's site - theater slang'stage dancer' or chorus girl. When I looked up the word I didn't notice this other meaning. Still, I suppose asking people to give three meanings would be a little too much. This message has been edited. Last edited by: arnie,
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
On second thoughts, Asa's "dancer" daffynition should really be counted as correct, as the word terp in the third meaning is almost certainly derived from terpsichorean. That means that Bob also got one right!
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
