Cap Mandrake
Posts: 23184
Joined: 11/15/2002 From: Southern California Status: offline
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********Meeting of the Anglo-American Royal Society for Etymology & Subterfuge, Auckland NZ, March 7, 1943****** Chairman: Right...now as to the matter of the defensive line in New Cale...erf..I mean New Scotland. Ideas? OSS Guy: How about Hadrian's New Wall? MI-5 guy: I like the notion but Hadrian's wall was in England so it is not really consistent, is it? OSS Guy: Wait, isn't Scotland part of England? MI-5 guy: No, it is not. It is part of Great Britain. OSS Guy: I thought you were British? MI-5 guy: I am. OSS Guy: Then you are Scottish too? MI-5 guy: Oh, good Lord, no. OSS Guy: You lost me. MI-5 guy: I am scarcely surprised. OSS Guy: "Scarcely surprised" <makes air quotes> Oooooh. Thank you professor. I bet you are a hit with the ladies., or do you bat both ways? Chairman: Look you two. This is supposed to be a cooperative effort. There will be no more of that. How about the Antonine New Wall Line? Wasn't that in Scotland? MI-5 guy: Indeed! Splendid idea. what say we use the local term, Gryme's dyke? OSS Guy: "Gryme's dyke", HAHAHAHAHHA. Is that one of your old girlfirends? Chairman: GENTLEMEN! Please. Very well, then, let's make it Gryme's New and Improved dyke. We need terms for the NE and SW ends of the line. MI-5 guy: Ah, how about Firth of Forth for the NE terminus? Chairman: First of the Forth, you say? MI-5 guy: No, FIRTH of Forth. Chairman: OK, got it, New Forth of the Fifth MI-5 guy: No, no, it's FIRTH. It's a geographical term. Chairman: Ah, so New Firth of the Ford, then? MI-5 guy: No, no, no. FORTH! And there is no "the" either. Chairman: Sure there is, one doesn't say "I am fourth son" MI-5 guy: No, one doesn't but it isnt and cardinal number. OSS Guy: I think you mean ordinal not cardinal, professor..............
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