On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:22:54 +0100 Terry Streeter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Guy Morgan wrote: > > You are Preserved Killick and I claim my share of the prize money! > > OK, I give up, WTF is that all about > > Terry Streeter - Leuven The incomparable works of Mr Patrick O'Brien (Deceased). Guy was referring to Killick, the Steward of one of the two main protagonists. Which Killick, beggin yer pardon, speaks sumat like this, being born 'n raised in Seven Sisters 'bout 1780 n' spent most of his adult life in the Navy. Hornblower made an important journey by Swift Boat, Jack Aubrey, however, looses a significant amount of his money on 'a monstrous ditch in Hampshire' that was never finished. And my point was that Bosun isn't a 'paper' contraction of Boatswain. The contraction was made in speech, became usual and the 'new' word was then written down and given an official spelling - probably by someone who didn't know what either Bosun or Boatswain was and that they might be connected. Which it is now just past Two Bells in the Middle Watch (an hour after the start of the four hour watch that covers the middle part of the night, starting at midnight - bells sound every half hour). Rick
