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?
August 11, 2006, 23:07
arnie
What does it mean?
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.
August 12, 2006, 02:37
jerry thomas
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?
August 12, 2006, 04:24
Richard English
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
August 12, 2006, 07:55
zmježd
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.
—Ceci n'est pas un seing.
August 12, 2006, 07:57
jerry thomas
I must admit this is the first time I ever saw "wand" used as a verb.
Whether it's a U.S. term or not is anybody's guess. I predict the procedure will continue but that use of the word will not.
August 12, 2006, 08:36
zmježd
It may not be long-lived, but then so few things are, but it certainly serves a current purpose for the people who use it.
—Ceci n'est pas un seing.
August 12, 2006, 21:48
Kalleh
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?
August 14, 2006, 00:16
pearce
quote:
Originally posted by jerry thomas: I must admit this is the first time I ever saw "wand" used as a verb.
Whether it's a U.S. term or not is anybody's guess. I predict the procedure will continue but that use of the word will not.
I too have never heard wand used as a verb, Thank goodness.
August 14, 2006, 03:07
arnie
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.
August 14, 2006, 18:46
shufitz
The Brits say:
arnie: "What does it mean? "
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,
August 14, 2006, 18:58
shufitz
The word may predate 9/11. Here is a cite from very shortly after that date.
I did see some people getting wanded, and I was wanded too, ... Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal, Nov. 30, 2001
August 14, 2006, 19:39
Kalleh
Interesting, Shu.
Maybe there aren't any words that have been coined since 9/11 then. However, "Ready to roll!" sure was popularized from 9/11.
August 14, 2006, 22:31
arnie
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.
August 15, 2006, 01:21
Richard English
quote:
However, "Ready to roll!" sure was popularized from 9/11.
If it means the same in the USA as it does here, then I can tell you that it has been in use for longer than that.
Richard English
August 16, 2006, 20:54
<Asa Lovejoy>
I believe the proper quotation was "Let's roll." Yes, it has been around a long time.
August 17, 2006, 13:04
dalehileman
Practically any word can be used as practically any part of speech
CRASH: n: when there is a security crash vb: crash the White House [fr West Wing] adj: in the crash mode
But I need an example where it's used as an adverb
August 17, 2006, 15:17
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.
August 17, 2006, 16:52
Seanahan
quote:
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.
August 17, 2006, 16:55
Seanahan
quote:
Originally posted by dalehileman: But I need an example where it's used as an adverb
The crashless race team won its fifth title.
That isn't "crash" exactly, but I don't see it being an adverb without a suffix.
August 17, 2006, 18:12
Kalleh
quote:
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.
Not around here, but there always are regional variations.
August 18, 2006, 17:09
Seanahan
Kalleh, we aren't from too far apart. It is probably a generational issue. : )
August 18, 2006, 17:43
Kalleh
Yeah...I thought of that after I posted that. Oh well!