On Wed, May 2, 2007 12:38 pm, Todd Walton wrote:
> On 5/2/07, Neil Schneider <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> I've known literally hundreds, and they run the gammit as most people
>
> Main Entry: gamut
> Pronunciation: 'ga-m&t
> Function: noun
> Etymology: Medieval Latin gamma, lowest note of a medieval scale (from
> Late Latin, 3d letter of the Greek alphabet) + ut ut
>
> 1 : the whole series of recognized musical notes
> 2 : an entire range or series <ran the gamut from praise to contempt>
>
>
>
Thank you. I learned something.
This is frequently confused with "gauntlet" because it is also run (BTW,
the origin is American Indian):
gaunt·let 2 also gant·let (gônt'lĭt, gänt'-) Pronunciation Key
n.
1.
a. A form of punishment or torture in which people armed with
sticks or other weapons arrange themselves in two lines facing
each other and beat the person forced to run between them.
b. The lines of people so arranged.
2. An onslaught or attack from all sides: "The hostages . . . ran the
gauntlet of insult on their way to the airport" (Harper's).
3. A severe trial; an ordeal.
This is further confused because a gauntlet is also an armored glove,
thrown down for a challenge, and a gantlet -- well, I'll let the
dictionary give its other, rather extrodinary, definition:
gant·let1 /ˈgæntlɪt, ˈgɔnt-/ Pronunciation Key -
Show Spelled Pronunciation[gant-lit, gawnt-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA
Pronunciation
noun
1. Railroads. a track construction used in narrow places, in which two
parallel tracks converge so that their inner rails cross, run parallel,
and diverge again, thus allowing a train to remain on its own track at all
times.
--
Lan Barnes
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Tcl/Tk Enthusiast Biodiesel Brewer
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