OT Today's new word : Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:07 pm  

I came across this in an online blog and thought that GI & McF (wordsmiths both) especially would be interested: All good stuff, but my favourite part was when he pointed out that the Greek word "borborygmos" has been excluded from the new Ancient Greek-English Lexicon being prepared in Cambridge. Since none of the assembled classicists at last night's lecture seemed prepared to tell me what this word meant, I had to email Prof Cartledge today, who replied that it refers to an "ominous rumbling in the bowels", a precursor, frankly, to a f*rt. Which proves, ladies and gentlemen, that you learn something new every day, particularly if you happen to make a visit to Cambridge university. The full blog is here for any Classical scholars amongst you: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/charl ... university

I came across this in an online blog and thought that GI & McF (wordsmiths both) especially would be interested: All good stuff, but my favourite part was when he pointed out that the Greek word "borborygmos" has been excluded from the new Ancient Greek-English Lexicon being prepared in Cambridge. Since none of the assembled classicists at last night's lecture seemed prepared to tell me what this word meant, I had to email Prof Cartledge today, who replied that it refers to an "ominous rumbling in the bowels", a precursor, frankly, to a f*rt. Which proves, ladies and gentlemen, that you learn something new every day, particularly if you happen to make a visit to Cambridge university. The full blog is here for any Classical scholars amongst you: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/charl ... university

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:12 pm  

This should have been on my invent a new word thread

Re: OT Today's new word : Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:15 pm  

Old Feller wrote:

"ominous rumbling in the bowels", a precursor, frankly, to a f*rt. Which proves, ladies and gentlemen, that you learn something new every day, particularly if you happen to make a visit to Cambridge university.

I wish I'd stayed at my studies instead of arsing around, Leeds Modern had a fast-track to Cambridge and I too could have been a professor of ominous stomach rumblings, wonderful stuff.