Snap! -----Original Message----- From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Ian Lawther Sent: 16 September 2009 17:14 To: Richard Leach Cc: Dartmouth Subject: [NSP] Re: Cut and Dry Dolly
Pure speculation but is there a chance that "cut and dry" herbs were woven into bunches like a corn "dolly"? Ian Richard Leach wrote: > A good old tune, for sure, but what does the title mean? > If a song, has anyone the words? > Dolly an historical figure? > > The web is silent on her. > > I can find only (OED): > "cut and dried (also cut and dry): originally referring to herbs in the > herbalists' shops, as contrasted with growing herbs; hence fig. ready-made > and void of freshness and spontaneity; also, ready shaped according to a > priori formal notions. (Usually of language, ideas, schemes or the like.)" > > -- and 4 references, 1710--1887 > > To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
