I wonder sometimes what would be the oldest extant word based on technology no longer in use. Taping an interview? Dialing someone? https://twitter.com/hels/status/679059633949011970 …
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Replying to @mwichary
maybe some 15th-17th century british naval term?https://www.crewseekers.net/notices/three-sheets-wind-nautical-slang-common-usage/ …
1 reply 0 retweets 6 likes -
Replying to @burritojustice
Marcin Wichary Retweeted cagey ratfish
Some good contenders:https://twitter.com/girlyratfish/status/1079615444237996032 …
Marcin Wichary added,
cagey ratfish @girlyratfishReplying to @mwichary @Infoseepageoff the top of my head: "taken aback" (when the wind suddenly reverses, and makes your sailing ship go backwards); "bitter end" (refers to the bitts, where the end of a rope was attached); "at the end of one's rope" (while we're at it); "pooped" (swamped by a following wave)1 reply 2 retweets 9 likes -
Replying to @mwichary
i've worked for 13 years in the modern maritime industry & i can confidently assert (because i've asked them) that none of the modern maritime workers i've worked with even know that these terms came originally from their own field
3 replies 2 retweets 24 likes -
Replying to @girlyratfish @mwichary
i'm like 1.5 sheets to the wind right now or i'd remember more. But seriously, so many common English expressions originate from nautical terminology because Her Majesty's Navy really did rule the seas for a really long time & naval officers were like rock stars.
3 replies 0 retweets 18 likes
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