And people still think that means something. Sometimes I can’t believe the stuff that comes out of people’s mouths (fingers).
James Moses:
April 24th, 2018 at 8:08 am
…..there is a CRITICAL figure in Mi’kMaq North American tribal folklore, the first name of which they pronounce, ‘Glooscap’ (perhaps referring to all Scots, Europeans visiting their shores at the 14th century’s turn) whose real name was sometimes accompanied in Scottish odes by what might be the TITLE of, Scrymgeour’ (suspect the derivation is NORMAN, Scandinavian and carried over to France, other countries in Europe) which I believe means, ‘Enscriber’, ”Chronicler’ and the TRUE origin of, ‘scrimshaw’…..
For scrimshank, perhaps a contraction of scrimp shank, saving your legs, hence idling, would be sensible suggestion.
JohnP:
June 24th, 2021 at 6:17 am
Obvious connection to “line of scrimmage”, where scrimmage is supposedly derived from “skirmish”, as in skirmish line. Scrim is a type of fabric used for curtains in theater, so another relation to a line (of separation).
Leave a comment
Search us!
Search The Word Detective and our family of websites:
This is the easiest way to find a column on a particular word or phrase.
To search for a specific phrase, put it between quotation marks. (note: JavaScript must be turned on in your browser to view results.)
Ask a Question!
Puzzled by Posh?
Confounded by Cattycorner?
Baffled by Balderdash?
Flummoxed by Flabbergast?
Perplexed by Pandemonium?
Nonplussed by... Nonplussed?
Annoyed by Alliteration?
Miami Laptop Repair:
September 15th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
And people still think that means something. Sometimes I can’t believe the stuff that comes out of people’s mouths (fingers).
James Moses:
April 24th, 2018 at 8:08 am
…..there is a CRITICAL figure in Mi’kMaq North American tribal folklore, the first name of which they pronounce, ‘Glooscap’ (perhaps referring to all Scots, Europeans visiting their shores at the 14th century’s turn) whose real name was sometimes accompanied in Scottish odes by what might be the TITLE of, Scrymgeour’ (suspect the derivation is NORMAN, Scandinavian and carried over to France, other countries in Europe) which I believe means, ‘Enscriber’, ”Chronicler’ and the TRUE origin of, ‘scrimshaw’…..
Edward Rees:
May 5th, 2021 at 1:56 pm
For scrimshank, perhaps a contraction of scrimp shank, saving your legs, hence idling, would be sensible suggestion.
JohnP:
June 24th, 2021 at 6:17 am
Obvious connection to “line of scrimmage”, where scrimmage is supposedly derived from “skirmish”, as in skirmish line. Scrim is a type of fabric used for curtains in theater, so another relation to a line (of separation).