The first date I had with Bill was to a hockey game. He was not well versed in the game, and I (a Canadian and die hard Leaf fan at the time) was happy to teach him. Longing to appear clever at something during the game, Bill began to peruse the program (programme for my Canadian pals) and began to read aloud the names of the players. It was during his recitation that we discovered our mutual love of word origins. At the time, a number of Finnish players were playing in the NHL (do they still? I don't watch anymore), and we were giving each other high fives for pointing out the Finnish names. The rest, as they say, is history.
Nowadays that might seem like a sort of racist endeavor: "Let's name all the Finnish people". But, that wasn't what was going on. We just truly enjoyed the etymology of words - and in this case it was surnames.
So, it is in this vein, that I share my most recent 'moment of joy'. It is with the word 'scuttlebutt'.
Last night Bill used the term scuttlebutt in a sentence. He paused (for dramatic effect) then offered me a challenge: : What's the origin of THAT word! Never one to back down from one of his quizzes, I quickly replied with a stalling tactic :
"Well, Scuttle - means to sink a ship on purpose. I learned that word while watching
Niagara with Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotton (my mother's favorite actor) - a fabulous movie shot on location in Niagara Falls many, many years ago."
Close - yes, it's a nautical term but it wasn't a complete answer.
Turns out scuttlebutt is actually a term for a cask of water that the sailors would drink from on deck. They would gather round it, drink water, and trade gossipy news. Hence the term 'scuttlebutt'.
WHHHHHHHHHhhhaaaaaaaaaaat? We both said at the same time - just like we use the term "Watercooler talk" where we learn all the office gossip.
I love words!
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