Fun Things Learned From Etymonline

[themeletor]

(The Online Etymology Dictionary)

1: NEW DRUNK PHRASE - half seas over. being a phrase with a high Nauticality Quotient and also much fun in that no-one apparently knows quite what it really means.

2: OLD DRUNK PHRASE - three sheets to the wind (see entry 2). being a phrase with which I am loath to part, but which was apparently first recorded in the 19th c., making it colloquial contraband[1] in PotC-fic *weep*



[1] - unless, of course[2], one uses the "ZOMBIE MONKEY!" defense, in which case anything goes, even periwigs + bucket-top boots.[3]

[2] - I originally typed this as "curse" and find that amusingly appropriate.

[3] - I am now assaulted by the image of Jack in a periwig, and find it impressively disturbing.

Comments

[mme-of-achilles.livejournal.com]

This is off subject but did you notice that the actor that played lord cutler in DMC was Mr Collins in PRide and PRedjudice.

[elessil.livejournal.com]

Ppft, three sheets to the wind SOUNDS period, they don't throw you out unlike modern terminology usually does....and the zombie monkey approves....savvy? (or should I say okay, like Liz?)

[elizile.livejournal.com]

Dude. Thank you. I was just wondering a few weeks ago what "three sheets to the wind" meant. Heh.

[drbillbongo.livejournal.com]

being a phrase with which I am loath to part, but which was apparently first recorded in the 19th c., making it colloquial contraband[1] in PotC-fic *weep*
Aww, shucks. And I so love that phrase, "three sheets to the wind". Why couldn't it have been introduced earlier?

[1] - unless, of course[2], one uses the "ZOMBIE MONKEY!" defense, in which case anything goes, even periwigs + bucket-top boots.[3]
Good point. Will keep it in mind. :D It's quite funny that most fic writers tend to do a lot of research and eventually drop some ideas because they didn't fit into the time period. If the writers of PotC had done that, the film would probably have never been made. ;)

Also, what does "half seas over" mean, then? Is there no actual explanation, or is it mostly used in a certain context (by which I don't mean confusing others)?

[order_of_chaos]

I am now assaulted by the image of Jack in a periwig, and find it impressively disturbing.
But most amusing to the parrot :P