A columnist was writing about anti-terrorism and mentioned that now "to wand" is a common, everyday verb. That got me to thinking...have other words like that developed since 9/11?
Arnie I think your question about the meaning of "to wand" indicates that you haven't travelled by air lately.
Airline passengers about to board airplanes must pass through Security Checkpoints where the Security Guards are equipped with metal-detecting wands that they wave around the passengers' bodies. When metal is detected, an audible alarm says, "Beep!"
Twenty years ago I fell off a bicycle and shattered my left acetabulum, or hip socket. Steel bolts were installed in the repair surgery. Those bolts set off the alarm whenever I'm wanded, so I explain about the bolts and offer to show the scar. My offer is usually declined.
Next question?
Posts: 6708 | Location: Kehena Beach, Hawaii, U.S.A.
I've travelled by air many times in the past few years and have been checked in the way you describe. But never have I heard it referred to as "wanding".
I suspect it's a US term.
Richard English
Posts: 8038 | Location: Partridge Green, West Sussex, UK
I've heard it used by some security people at a US airport. It makes sense that it would develop. Easier to say: "I have to wand this person" than "I have to run a metal-detecting wand over this person's body." I suspect that English will survive the injection of a new denominal verb.
Hmmm...I thought it was a common use of the word. Perhaps it is just used more at O'Hare. I was "wanded" the other day in Salt Lake City, though. It was irritating because I specifically asked if I had to take my shoes off, and he said no. Then, when I beeped, he said, "You should have taken your shoes off!"
Are there other words like this that have arisen since 9/11 and our increased focus on anti-terrorism?
On a similar note, Michael Quinion's newsletter reports: The Gatwick Airport site, Ben Ostrowsky notes, interprets this [the recent restriction on hand baggage] disturbingly: “Hand baggage restrictions are in place; Passengers will be handsearched; Footwear and all items (including pushchairs and walking aids) must be x-ray screened; Liquids will be removed from the passenger.” Is that like taking the piss?
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.
Richard: "But never have I heard it ... I suspect it's a US term.
pearce: "I too have never heard wand used as a verb"
But The Guardian says today, "Domodedovo [airport, in Moscow] has since evolved a policy whereby if Muslim women will not be wanded or hand searched, they have to stand in an x-ray machine." The Guardian is quoting an editor of Flight International Magazine, which appears to be UK-based. (Note that its homepage is at http://www.qssa.co.uk, etc.)This message has been edited. Last edited by: shufitz,
The Guardian is quoting this David Learmount, who is the Flight International magazine operations and safety editor. I suspect the word is quite likely used as jargon by the security services, but not used by people in general over here.
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.
Originally posted by Kalleh: Well, of course "Let's roll" (or any derivations thereof) has been around for awhile. My point, however, was that 9/11 surely popularized it.
I would say that it was already a very popular expression, and 9/11 didn't make it any more popular than it already was.
