Peter Boulding
2018-10-07 16:45:23 UTC
My word of the day -- new to me but still current, according to the OED, in
the US and the Anti-Podes:
Donnybrook: a scene of uproar and disorder; a riotous or uproarious
meeting; a heated argument.
Great word, and delightful derivation: it comes from the Irish "Domhnach
Broc", meaning "The Church of Saint Broc". This was the name of an Irish
town--now a suburb of Dublin--but over the centuries it morphed into
"Donnybrook".
Donnybrook was long famous for its annual fair--which, in turn, was famous
for its many (usually drunken) fights that quickly escalated into brawls,
and thence into riots.
From urbandictionary.com: "A donnybrook often takes place in a pub(bar) or
on some occasions, the house of an Irish family. A donnybrook often involves
heavy alcohol use, and anybody in the place the donnybrook happens. The end
of a donnybrook usually results in missing teeth, lacerations to the head,
scars, scrapes, and bruises to the body. If you ever hear of a donnybrook
starting at the place you're in, either run, or participate and be prepared
for all of the above fleshwounds the next morning."
(I came across the word in a western, which referred to an approaching storm
that "looked like it was going to be a real Donnybrook".)
the US and the Anti-Podes:
Donnybrook: a scene of uproar and disorder; a riotous or uproarious
meeting; a heated argument.
Great word, and delightful derivation: it comes from the Irish "Domhnach
Broc", meaning "The Church of Saint Broc". This was the name of an Irish
town--now a suburb of Dublin--but over the centuries it morphed into
"Donnybrook".
Donnybrook was long famous for its annual fair--which, in turn, was famous
for its many (usually drunken) fights that quickly escalated into brawls,
and thence into riots.
From urbandictionary.com: "A donnybrook often takes place in a pub(bar) or
on some occasions, the house of an Irish family. A donnybrook often involves
heavy alcohol use, and anybody in the place the donnybrook happens. The end
of a donnybrook usually results in missing teeth, lacerations to the head,
scars, scrapes, and bruises to the body. If you ever hear of a donnybrook
starting at the place you're in, either run, or participate and be prepared
for all of the above fleshwounds the next morning."
(I came across the word in a western, which referred to an approaching storm
that "looked like it was going to be a real Donnybrook".)
--
Regards, Peter Boulding
***@UNSPAMpboulding.co.uk (to e-mail, remove "UNSPAM")
Fractal Music: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=794240&content=music
Regards, Peter Boulding
***@UNSPAMpboulding.co.uk (to e-mail, remove "UNSPAM")
Fractal Music: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=794240&content=music