On Wed, 17 Oct 2001, Tom Allaway wrote: > Not to pick a nit, but it's hard to see how a petard "could possibly > symbolize" a penis (S. Black)... the resemblance of most organs to a > small bomb is minimal. > > The "hoisting" done by a (even one's own) petard is not, as it may > sound, like being lifted by a pole... it's being blown in the air! >
I always understood it to be a small cannon. That seems to me to be more penis-like in function than a cigar (but speak for yourself on the size issue, eh?). In trying to verify this (which was only partially successful: my dictionary calls it a firecracker, and some of us are!), I discover that it derives from a Greek word meaning "to break wind". I'm sure Freud would have loved to know that. (and I acknowledge a wonderful line from Max Gwinn. Is this list great or what?) -Stephen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at: http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
