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- Title
Three Anglo-Norman Etymologies: Booze, Gear, and Gin.
- Authors
Sayers, William
- Abstract
The article discusses the Anglo-Norman etymology of the English words booze, gear, and gin. The author draws on definitions from "The Oxford English Dictionary" (OED) to show that booze is derived from the Middle English word, bousen, which meant to drink excessively, but that it is also connected to the Anglo-French word buz. It is suggested that the word gear is not derived from the Old Norse word gervi, but that it is related to the Anglo-French word greie, which is derived from the Old Norse word greiða. The word gin, the author suggests, is derived from the Norman French language, specifically the Old Norse word ginna. The author addresses the history and social conditions associated with the etymologies and definitions of the words and their modern English uses.
- Subjects
ENGLISH etymology; MIDDLE English etymology; ANGLO-Norman dialect; OLD Norse language; ETYMOLOGY; OXFORD English Dictionary
- Publication
Notes & Queries, 2010, Vol 57, Issue 4, p461
- ISSN
0029-3970
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/notesj/gjq172