Tagged Questions
6
votes
2answers
142 views
Etymology of “blackguard rating” in the context of the British Army during the Crimean War
From Wikipedia:
I never had such a blackguard rating in all my life – I who have had more than any woman – than from this Barry sitting on his horse, while I was crossing the Hospital Square with ...
3
votes
5answers
521 views
Are camp followers prostitutes?
My own understanding of the term camp followers was that it was synonymous with prostitutes who followed armies around plying their trade. However, according to Wikipedia:
Camp-follower is a term ...
7
votes
2answers
288 views
OED Appeals: Origin of “bimble”
The OED has made a public appeal for help in tracing the history of some English words, including:
bimble
verb earlier than 1983
The word bimble, meaning ‘to move at a leisurely pace’, ...
9
votes
4answers
569 views
Why does “klick” mean kilometer in US military slang?
Wiktionary says it is either likely a pseudo-condensed pronunciation of kilometer or onomatopoeic of the sound of a military odometer.
Though kilometers are not commonly used to measure distance ...
