Messages from Usenet group comp.lang.idl-pvwave, compiled by Paulo Penteado
Folks, I was reading away on my Kindle this evening (and how did I *ever* get along without that amazing piece of machinery!) when I stumbled across this sentence, which my dictionary was no help at all with, but which I liked *very* much: "I like fussicking and yorking around in graveyards..." Since this is a book about Ireland, written by an English author, I thought I might get some help translating it from the International folks who sometimes read this newsgroup. What in the world does "fussicking and yorking" mean? Coyote has, as usual, been absolutely no help with his lewd suggestions, which can't possibly be right! Cheers, David -- David Fanning, Ph.D. Fanning Software Consulting, Inc. Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.idlcoyote.com/ Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")
On May 30, 2:49 am, David Fanning <n...@idlcoyote.com> wrote: > Folks, > > I was reading away on my Kindle this evening (and how > did I *ever* get along without that amazing piece of > machinery!) when I stumbled across this sentence, which > my dictionary was no help at all with, but which I liked > *very* much: > > "I like fussicking and yorking around in graveyards..." > > Since this is a book about Ireland, written by an > English author, I thought I might get some help > translating it from the International folks who > sometimes read this newsgroup. What in the world > does "fussicking and yorking" mean? Coyote has, > as usual, been absolutely no help with his > lewd suggestions, which can't possibly be right! The OED (Oxford English dictionary) says: fussock v. Obs. (intr.) to roll about in an unwieldy way That fits? They also mention " English regional (midland and southern) fussock (also fussick, fursick) to bustle about, make a fuss, to fidget, to rub, to potter over one's work (1854 or earlier)" Ciao, Paolo > > Cheers, > > David > > -- > David Fanning, Ph.D. > Fanning Software Consulting, Inc. > Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming:http://www.idlcoyote.com/ > Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")
Paolo writes: > The OED (Oxford English dictionary) says: > > fussock v. Obs. (intr.) to roll about in an unwieldy way > > That fits? > > They also mention > " English regional (midland and southern) fussock (also fussick, > fursick) > to bustle about, make a fuss, to fidget, to rub, to potter over one's > work > (1854 or earlier)" Well, "to rub" is getting uncomfortably close to Coyote's definition, but I'm pretty sure that's not what the author had in mind. :-( Any ideas about "yorking". That could be a made-up word, I guess. But if it is, it's a good one. Cheers, David -- David Fanning, Ph.D. Fanning Software Consulting, Inc. Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.idlcoyote.com/ Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")
On May 31, 12:54 pm, David Fanning <n...@idlcoyote.com> wrote: > Paolo writes: >> The OED (Oxford English dictionary) says: > >> fussock v. Obs. (intr.) to roll about in an unwieldy way > >> That fits? > >> They also mention >> " English regional (midland and southern) fussock (also fussick, >> fursick) >> to bustle about, make a fuss, to fidget, to rub, to potter over one's >> work >> (1854 or earlier)" > > Well, "to rub" is getting uncomfortably close to > Coyote's definition, but I'm pretty sure that's > not what the author had in mind. :-( > > Any ideas about "yorking". That could be a made-up > word, I guess. But if it is, it's a good one. Well that is a bit more speculative but it could be a variant spelling of "yerking/yarking" and in the defintion of yerk/yark "To move (some part of the body) with a jerk or twitch; esp. to lash out with (the legs), as a horse." Ciao, Paolo > > Cheers, > > David > > -- > David Fanning, Ph.D. > Fanning Software Consulting, Inc. > Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming:http://www.idlcoyote.com/ > Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")
On May 31, 1:01 pm, Paolo <pgri...@gmail.com> wrote: > On May 31, 12:54 pm, David Fanning <n...@idlcoyote.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > > >> Paolo writes: >>> The OED (Oxford English dictionary) says: > >>> fussock v. Obs. (intr.) to roll about in an unwieldy way > >>> That fits? > >>> They also mention >>> " English regional (midland and southern) fussock (also fussick, >>> fursick) >>> to bustle about, make a fuss, to fidget, to rub, to potter over one's >>> work >>> (1854 or earlier)" > >> Well, "to rub" is getting uncomfortably close to >> Coyote's definition, but I'm pretty sure that's >> not what the author had in mind. :-( > >> Any ideas about "yorking". That could be a made-up >> word, I guess. But if it is, it's a good one. > > Well that is a bit more speculative but it could be > a variant spelling of "yerking/yarking" and in the > defintion of yerk/yark > > "To move (some part of the body) with a jerk or twitch; > esp. to lash out with (the legs), as a horse." There's a quotation supporting this theory: 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 158 b, He [sc. the horse] chaufeth & champeth vpon the bridle, commeth a loft, yorketh out with his heeles behinde. > > Ciao, > Paolo > > > > > > > > > >> Cheers, > >> David > >> -- >> David Fanning, Ph.D. >> Fanning Software Consulting, Inc. >> Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming:http://www.idlcoyote.com/ >> Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")
Paolo writes: > There's a quotation supporting this theory: > 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 158 > b, > He [sc. the horse] chaufeth & champeth vpon the bridle, > commeth a loft, yorketh out with his heeles behinde. Paolo, you are a man of many talents! Thank you. :-) Cheers, David -- David Fanning, Ph.D. Fanning Software Consulting, Inc. Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.idlcoyote.com/ Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")
On May 31, 1:14 pm, David Fanning <n...@idlcoyote.com> wrote: > Paolo writes: >> There's a quotation supporting this theory: >> 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 158 >> b, >> He [sc. the horse] chaufeth & champeth vpon the bridle, >> commeth a loft, yorketh out with his heeles behinde. > > Paolo, you are a man of many talents! Thank you. :-) Oh, the praise should go to the OED, one of the most amazing resources ever, especially for non-native speakers like me. http://www.oed.com/ Ciao, Paolo > > Cheers, > > David > > -- > David Fanning, Ph.D. > Fanning Software Consulting, Inc. > Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming:http://www.idlcoyote.com/ > Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")