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Literary Britspeak #2
"Lin Digs Books" wrote in message
om... 2. Why would someone named Brian Clark be *inevitably called Nobby*? From Eric Partridge, *A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English* (8th ed. 1984): nobby, n. Alway *the nobby*. The smart thing: 1869, E. Farmer; ob. (*OED*.) *Ex nobby*, adj.--2. Inevitable nickname (*Nobby*) for any man surnamed *Clark(e)*: late C.19-20. Also, 'the naval nickname which, originally given to Admiral Charles Ewart on account of his dapperness, has spred to all Ewarts and Hewetts' (Bowen): C.20. *Nobby* also a loose var. of *Knobby*. Clarks are *Nobby* because clerks used, in the City, to wear top hats, i.e., *nobby* hats.--3. The ship *Niobe*: RN:--1909 (Ware).--4. *Nobbie* (or -*by*), 'used when name of colleague is not known' (*Evening News*, 27 Apr. 1954): busmen's: since ca. 1940. Ex sense 2. nobby, adj. Very smart, elegant, or fashionable. Of persons: from ca. 1808. A broadside ballad of ca. 1810, 'A werry nobby dog's meat man'. (Cf. *nifty*, q.v.) Of places or things: 1844, C. Selby, 'My togs being in keeping with this nobby place'; 1852, 'The nobbiest way of keeping it quiet'. Ex Scots *knabbie* or *knabby* (1788, Picken, 'Mony a knabbie laird': *OED*); see also *nob*, n., 4. William M. Klimon http://www.gateofbliss.com |
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"William M. Klimon" wrote in message news:Ie4Pa.1488$EM1.814@lakeread07...
"Lin Digs Books" wrote in message om... 2. Why would someone named Brian Clark be *inevitably called Nobby*? From Eric Partridge, *A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English* (8th ed. 1984): nobby, n. Alway *the nobby*. The smart thing: 1869, E. Farmer; ob. (*OED*.) *Ex nobby*, adj.--2. Inevitable nickname (*Nobby*) for any man surnamed *Clark(e)*: late C.19-20. Also, 'the naval nickname which, originally given to Admiral Charles Ewart on account of his dapperness, has spred to all Ewarts and Hewetts' (Bowen): C.20. *Nobby* also a loose var. of *Knobby*. Clarks are *Nobby* because clerks used, in the City, to wear top hats, i.e., *nobby* hats.--3. The ship *Niobe*: RN:--1909 (Ware).--4. *Nobbie* (or -*by*), 'used when name of colleague is not known' (*Evening News*, 27 Apr. 1954): busmen's: since ca. 1940. Ex sense 2. nobby, adj. Very smart, elegant, or fashionable. Of persons: from ca. 1808. A broadside ballad of ca. 1810, 'A werry nobby dog's meat man'. (Cf. *nifty*, q.v.) Of places or things: 1844, C. Selby, 'My togs being in keeping with this nobby place'; 1852, 'The nobbiest way of keeping it quiet'. Ex Scots *knabbie* or *knabby* (1788, Picken, 'Mony a knabbie laird': *OED*); see also *nob*, n., 4. William M. Klimon http://www.gateofbliss.com Perfect! Thanks so much. I, of course, wonder why I didn't think of looking in this book, which is sitting at home in my bookcase. Of course, asking you folks is way more fun. Thanks Lindig |
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