The 'after' part of aftermath is fairly obvious. Where does the 'math' part come from, though? Hint: it has nothing to do with mathematics.

Please send your daffymologies to me by PM.

Mine is in. Thanks, arnie!

Any more entries?

Come on folks! Only three entries so far. Get your thinking caps on!

No more entries yet. Come on people!

Too many games in progress at one time.

So...the same people can play all games! I actually think goofy and z should get their you-know-whats in gear for this game!

I have sent etymologies to the Bluffing Game and daffynitions to the Etymology Game. I AM AN IDIOT! Or else there are too many games at once.

Still no more entries. I've published the results of the Bluffing Game so perhaps we can bend our brains in the direction of this game now.

Same thing happened last couple of times we tried to launch this as a game. Not enough people are interested to make it work.

I'm interested, and do want it to succeed! See if you can get entries from Z and Goofy.

I am, too, Bob, though I do think it's a bit harder than our other games. Too many people here know about etymologies of words, so it's hard to fool people. I'll ask z on the chat tomorrow if he'd give it a try. Generally he doesn't read these Wordplay posts.

That's why my original suggestion was slightly different to arnie's.

I didn't propose that we submit plausible etymologies intended to fool anyone. I suggested we submit funny ones intended to make people laugh and the winner could be chosen by voting for your favourite.

And that is how I'm playing the game now. SO I guess whichever one is silliest is mine.

The real etymology could even be included when proposing a new word.

oh, I like that idea, Bob. My brain had been freezing trying to think of a plausible etymology. I'll give it a try.

Here are the daffymologies for aftermath.

1. Refers to the Kingdom of Meath, in Ireland. After the collapse of the kingdom in the 12th century, the Irish 'dark ages' began.

2. Aftermath - (just the math) - From Proto-Germanic methe, meaning "method."

3. "People often make the mistake of dividing this word as after-math when it should more properly be divided as aft-ermath. Yes, its another nautical origin. The ermath was a mythical sea-serpent that destroyed ships. Unlike other mythical sea-serpents it always waylaid ships in pairs. One of the creatures would swim just below the surface. The other would rise behind the ship which would naturally flee under full sail straight towards the invisible submerged beast. At the last moment this serpent – the fore-ermath - would rise from the depths overturning the ship and begin to destroy and devour. The other, the aft-ermath – would only catch up as the ship was already no more than a floating pile of wreckage.
It still managed a good meal from the enterprise.

Or so the legends have it."

4. Originally a second crop of grass grown after the first had been harvested, from Old English mowth "a mowing, cutting of grass". Figurative sense by 1650s.

5. From after + Mithras, a Roman god of good fortune. Thus the result of the sacrifice is the aftermath.

6. Medieval coinage (from OF apres-matte), referring to straw pallets on which knights recovered after taxing competition, particularly jousting.

Time to guess!

4?

3 because awesome

5

Thanks for playing, goofy! Now we must talk z into playing.

Guess which one was mine, go on guess. <jumps up and down>

I'll guess 4 though I'd really rather choose mine.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobHale,

I guess no. 3 as my favorite. And I guess it (3) is Mr. Hale's as well.

Any more guesses? I'll post the results in the next day or so.

And when you do I have another one ready to go with slightly different rules (I always work to "my game, my rules).

The results for aftermath:

1. Refers to the Kingdom of Meath, in Ireland. After the collapse of the kingdom in the 12th century, the Irish 'dark ages' began.

Mine. No takers

2. Aftermath - (just the math) - From Proto-Germanic methe, meaning "method."

Kalleh. No takers

3. "People often make the mistake of dividing this word as after-math when it should more properly be divided as aft-ermath. Yes, its another nautical origin. The ermath was a mythical sea-serpent that destroyed ships. Unlike other mythical sea-serpents it always waylaid ships in pairs. One of the creatures would swim just below the surface. The other would rise behind the ship which would naturally flee under full sail straight towards the invisible submerged beast. At the last moment this serpent – the fore-ermath - would rise from the depths overturning the ship and begin to destroy and devour. The other, the aft-ermath – would only catch up as the ship was already no more than a floating pile of wreckage.
It still managed a good meal from the enterprise.

Or so the legends have it."

Bob (surprise!). Chosen by goofy, Tom.

4. Originally a second crop of grass grown after the first had been harvested, from Old English mowth "a mowing, cutting of grass". Figurative sense by 1650s.

The real thing. See http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=aftermath Picked by Geoff, Bob

5. From after + Mithras, a Roman god of good fortune. Thus the result of the sacrifice is the aftermath.

Geoff. Guessed by Kalleh.

6. Medieval coinage (from OF apres-matte), referring to straw pallets on which knights recovered after taxing competition, particularly jousting.

bethree5. No takers.

Despite low participation, some good etymythologies - or whatever we're calling them. Bob should win a special award for creativity.

As my special award I'm going to create the next round...