Word of the day

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:58 am

Actually it derives from the Latin word velum, meaning sail.

Wing is ala - hence aile in French, etc.

Still waiting for today's word to turn up.....

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Thu May 03, 2007 12:43 pm

And here it is......

alidade

â€¢ noun a sighting device or pointer for determining directions or measuring angles, used in surveying and (formerly) astronomy.

â€” origin late Middle English: directly or (in modern use) via French and Spanish from Arabic al-Â´idada â€˜the revolving radiusâ€™, probably based on adud â€˜upper armâ€™.

cj · Post by cj » Thu May 03, 2007 2:05 pm

How do I incorporate that into a conversation with a three-year-old?

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Thu May 03, 2007 3:55 pm

Well, it might be of some use in assisting a younger gentleman to judge the correct distance to stand from the lavatory bowl whilst emptying his bladder........

cj · Post by cj » Thu May 03, 2007 5:44 pm

And the girls?

midget · Post by **midget** » Thu May 03, 2007 7:57 pm

With difficulty,cj.

Maggie

englishangel · Post by **englishangel** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:37 am

Richard Ruck wrote:Actually it derives from the Latin word velum, meaning sail.

Wing is ala - hence aile in French, etc.

Still waiting for today's word to turn up.....

Well I am having a bad week. Husband had a bad prawn at the weekend and we have succumbed one after the other.

cj · Post by cj » Fri May 04, 2007 8:15 am

englishangel wrote:
Richard Ruck wrote:Actually it derives from the Latin word velum, meaning sail.

Wing is ala - hence aile in French, etc.

Still waiting for today's word to turn up.....
Well I am having a bad week. Husband had a bad prawn at the weekend and we have succumbed one after the other.

Get well, Mary.

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:25 am

englishangel wrote:
Richard Ruck wrote:Actually it derives from the Latin word velum, meaning sail.

Wing is ala - hence aile in French, etc.

Still waiting for today's word to turn up.....
Well I am having a bad week. Husband had a bad prawn at the weekend and we have succumbed one after the other.

Oh dear, not good.

Try to get well for the weekend.

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:46 am

cj wrote:And the girls?

A female friend who frequents outdoor music festivals informs me that there is a device called a 'Shewee' which allows ladies to, ahem, remain standing.

Anyway, moving swiftly on, today's word is....

godet

â€¢ noun a triangular piece of material inserted in a dress, shirt, or glove to make it flared or for ornamentation.

â€” origin late 19th cent. : from French.

Katharine · Post by **Katharine** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:53 am

Richard Ruck wrote: today's word is....

godet

â€¢ noun a triangular piece of material inserted in a dress, shirt, or glove to make it flared or for ornamentation.

â€” origin late 19th cent. : from French.

Well of course, I thought we all knew that!!!!

I haven't made any clothes for a long time, so can't think when I last used the word but ....

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:58 am

Katharine wrote: Well of course, I thought we all knew that!!!!

This sort of information was deliberately withheld from us at Horsham!

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:49 am

A cheerful one today:

sparagmos

â€¢ noun [mass noun]- the dismemberment of a victim, forming a part of some ancient rituals and represented in Greek myths and tragedies.

â€” origin Greek, literally â€˜tearingâ€™.

Rory · Post by **Rory** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:28 am

So how would you use that in conversation...

Hi there - I really enjoyed the sparagmos last night - how about you???

cj · Post by cj » Tue May 08, 2007 9:55 am

Hooray! Daughter number 1 is doing Greek theatre at school. This has immediate and real relevance. Well done, RR!!