Buccaneers at Play
SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 403 Report by Pibwob Competitors were asked to invent unlikely definitions (on the lines of 'Buccaneer' from 'Boucan, a framework for broiling oxen) for six of the following: Amazon, Blunderbuss, Curfew, Dairy- maid, Flamingo, London, Mistletoe, Mushroom, Nightmare, Pedigree, Scapegoat, Whiskers, THE ingenuity shown in most of the 528 defini- tions furnished was breathtaking. As was to be expected, there was some duplication, e.g. Amazon connected with her zone and with ',Jolson, nowadays amazonette; Blunderbuss, a weapon firing a noisy, miss-placed kiss; Curfew, 'Curse you,' with various explanations; Whiskers deriving from whisky, etc. For reasons of space many good examples have had to be omitted, `°and frequently those quoted have had to be re- duced to telegraphese, for which I apologise to their framers.
AMAZON (50 definitions furnished). 'Amahs, on !' slogan of warrior women of Hindustan. A Scottish virago anagrammatised as 'As a mon.' 'Arm a zombie,' a deadly female snake with scales. Nero's 'Arno Soniant,' whose masculine, warlike disposition delighted in conflagrations.
BLUNDERBUSS (59). An oath made by the pupils of Miss F. Buss. 'Blinder' (mock, false)+`ge- bisse' (teeth), hence any fearsome, noisy device liable to sudden explosion. `Blundee+ 'Buzz- bomb.' twentieth-century term of derision for seventeenth-century weapon. `Blinderboss,' a higher form of civil servant.
CURFEW (62). 'Corfu,' where Crusaders rang warning bells at nightfall to extinguish camp fires before Saracen attacks. The distinctive Angelus which Pope Pius V ordered to be rung at 'Corfu.' `Cure few,' of meeting to drink after closing- time. 'Core feud,' Worcester apple-fight as pre- text for settling private quarrels after dark, whence imposition of Curfew. 'Cur view,' when dogs are seen being put out for the night.
DAIRYMAID (34). Derry-maid,' one who looks after Derry herd. Derry-maid' sang charm 'Hey- a-down-derry' to make butter come. `De re,, madida,' occupational risk of getting damp. `Derma' (skin)+'ide' (behold) complexion of those who avoid smallpox. 'Des remedes' for their remedies against smallpox. Day-early- maid,' as early riser. `Dryad'+`Mmnad, their convulsive movements milking under trees taken for bacchic frency. 'Darius' + 'Made (is soaked), Darius bathed in milk brought by handmaids. FLAMINGO (39). 'Philo-mango,' from its addic- tion to that fruit. 'Fila Mango,' child of the mango, confused with mangrove, the bird's habi- tat. 'Elamencule,' little priest (flamen) for its sacer- dotel mien and scarlet finery. What the Queen said to Alice, 'Whose flaming go is it?'
LONDON (40). 'Long Domino,' a long, hooded black cloak. `L'Ondine,' as guardian spirit of the Thames. 'Luan'+`Dun,' the city of the moon, `Lunm'+'Dunom,' Roman soldiers seeing the little village at nightfall believed it to be the gift of the Moon-goddess. `L' (£ sterling)+ 'Undone,' devaluation centre. 'Long Don,' capital of mytho- logical Spanish giant who conquered England. 'Lon' (yard)+`Denye' (dung), Dungyard. (Sally) `Lunn'+'Don,' for distributing free buns on festal occasions. 'Long-dump,' stacks of goods on long wharves. `Loen' (stupid folk)+`Din,' place full of stupid, noisy people.
MISTLETOE (38). `Miseratio,' the cry of the unkissed maiden. `Missa Leti,' death mass in which it played a prominent part. 'Mister, let go ! "Mit list die Frau,' with cunning the woman. French dancing master's 'Miss, le toe, bow!' to that tune. Its leaf painted like the 'toe' of 'missel' thrush. 'Muzzle two!' Mio Saluto."Miss tilt toe' to reach tall gallant.
MUSHROOM (43). 'Mutch' (cap)+ 'Rom' (gipsy), cap of mushroom, gipsies' favourite delicacy. 'Mos' (custom)-PRomanus,' Roman survival at- tributed to their custom of eating mushrooms rather than toadstools. 'Mush' (mess)+`Room' (space), mess in space caused by atomic ex- plosions, hence edible fungi of similar shape. `Mussito' (frog). 'Mussitorium,' place for frogs (cf. toadstool). `Masher'l- `Um'(-brella), shape resembling umbrellas of mid-Victorian mashers. `Mushy' (caterpillar)-1-`room,' the caterpillar's home (as Lewis Carroll knew).
NIGHTMARE (32). Originally 'an ight mare,' air (island)-1-`mare'(hag), island-hags suffocating passing seamen in their sleep, hence a terrible dream. 'Nicht mehr,' Freud stopping a garrulous patient in mid-narration of horrid dreams. PEDIGREE (53). 'Podagra,' gout common in 01,d families. 'Pais' (child)+`Goree' (African gorilla district), `Gorilla-child' suggests long descent t. Pais'+'Granum,' what is ancestrally ingraine`; in a child. `Pied-degree,' noblewomen of Cathay bound their feet. 'Pied de Grue,' connecting generations in a family tree suggest cranes' legs. 'Pere de gre,' father of rank. 'Piceed de gris,' ancient lapidary monuments inscrlu 4 with details of descent (often in verse, vets"!, gris). 'Pay degree,' ability to pay for universil education as a sign of status. Japanese 'Pei) gri,' gilt ladder by which courtiers approaelo" the Mikado's throne. Combination of ,„„A. degree' and 'pea-degree,' referring to the t„, under-the-mattress test for those Of high degree SCAPEGOAT (32). 'Space' (by metathesis), 'sal, +(Russian) 'ghat,' dog, i.e. 'space-doe propet,,' landscapegoat,' from its frequent introductin" into old paintings. Russian `shootgov,' one d.'1,5' graced and removed from high administran'i post to make room for another. `Scapus' (scePl. -1-',goute' (a drop), hence abdication of monaccor 'Scapolo ignoto,' unknown bachelor, blamed ' scandals'and misdeeds in Italian villages. WHISKERS (46). `Visca,' a parasitic plant. `Vi:, (strength, manliness)+`cera' (wax) used on then, `Viscbunters,' as first worn by nobles of that rat 'Wiskerias,' luxurious climbing plant. OrigilL0.111 'Uisters,' first cultivated by natives of island,! `Uskers,' Turkish cheeses containing goat's 03'. `Whisper-kerchiefs,' under cover of which thoe barons plotted against John; when these 11/F0 confiscated they grew substitutes behind they continued to plot. `Wis' (know)÷ (onions), popular belief that hairy men are gr'" knowing.
Highly commended are ten lexicograP-( whose definjtions appear three times in above dictionary. Three guineas to Mrs. V,. Ormerod, who scored five bulls'-eyes, and guinea each to C. H. Whitnall, Rhoda Tuck and H. G. Button.
SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 406 Set by Taper • A NATO meeting at Head-of-State level tfi$ place on December 16. Competitors are invite for the usual prizes, to produce the preaff141 41 to the communique that will be issued at ' close of the meeting. Limit: 150 words.
Entries, addressed 'Spectator Competiton •,cr 406,' 99 Gower Street, London, WC1, by Dece" ber 3. Results on December 13.
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