Mo's Rather Interesting World of Exploded Folk Etymologies

[undyingking]

Plenty of takers for last time's quiz about the origins of "avocado", some of which were correct, some amusing, and some both.

Personally I used to think, until I found out the real story, that it must have something to do with the Spanish word for "lawyer", which is "abogado" -- maybe after they were brought back to Spain from South America by the conquistadores, they were primarily eaten by lawyers, or smelt like them, or something. gbsteve was the only one to moot this suggestion -- great minds, etc.

Various people suggested it came from the native South American name for the fruit¹, which is indeed the correct explanation. We had guesses of Incan and Mayan, but secondhand_rick was closest with *ec. It is in fact Aztec (or, rather, it's Nahuatl, the language the Aztecs spoke) -- they called it an "ahuacatl". This became "aguacate" to the Spanish colonists, and then in English "avocado". (In Quechua, the Incan language, it's the much more boring "palta".)

(And if you mosh up an ahuacatl into paste, that's called ahuacamolli, which we know as guacamole -- also, as secondhand_rick pointed out, the name of a fairground game where you have to hit things that pop out of holes.)

But what does ahuacatl mean? bateleur, caffeine_fairy and brixtonbrood were right here -- it means "testicle". Allegedly this is because of the shape of the fruit, although whether that says more about Aztec anatomy or Aztec imagination, I leave you to decide.

According to this possibly not very authoritative site, such was the aphrodisiac reputation of avocados to the ancients that (female) virgins weren't allowed outside during the picking season. I think we can all identify with that -- who among us can honestly say, etc.

Next up, a very peculiar one: "curry favour". We all know what it means, but do we know why it means that? As last time, say in a comment what you think is the origin of this polite version of schmoozing. No looking it up, just off the top of your head. Or if you know of a theory but also know or believe it to be wrong, then say that and you can look clever. Call-My-Bluff style suggestions also welcome!

Edited to add: NB the "curry" part is the easy part, and is not the reason why I said it was very peculiar. The "favour" part is the tricky and surprising bit.

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1 Apparently, it's a berry.

Comments

[vicarage.livejournal.com]

Well curry combs are used to brush horses, so I guess it comes from preening someones ego as if they were a horse.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

See also hasty note added above.

[wimble.livejournal.com]

To curry is (bizarrely, given the usual understanding) is the act of grooming a horse. More precisely than that, I don't know, but I guess it's actually referring to prettifying by plaiting tails, and adding ribbons etc. I am aware that such artifacts as "Curry combs" exist.

So I guess the phrase in question means "To encourage benefit by gently stroking (the ego of the target)". </handwave>

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

See also hasty note added above.

[secondhand-rick.livejournal.com]

That secondhandrick is a boorish imposter. Accept no imitators!

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry, fixed now.

[secondhand-rick.livejournal.com]

And those people posting up there... no, up there... yes, them, they're all fools. Combs? Horses? Utter twaddle.

To curry favour means to take a favour (i.e. a hankie famously carried by damsels at tournaments) and fry it with onion, spices and perhaps some tomato, then serve it with rice¹.

Why did they do this? Who knows, they were olden times folk, and didn't have the telly or teh internet. They did all sorts of crazy stuff back then.


^{[1] - and as a bonus... clarified butter was commonly used to speed up the cooking process, and this is the source of the phrase Ghee Whizz!}

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Genius!

Peculiar indeed

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I didn't know it from the top of my head but some research indicates the origin from various sources. Just shows how malleable language is and how things change with usage over time.

My local dialect has several words and expressions originating from French, despite our hometown being on the opposite (Eastern) border but a lot of French soldiers came through the area during the 30 Years' War and left their mark. Odd, isn't it?

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

I've just looked up the 'real' answer, and am desperately unconvinced by it. I want proof! I want documented usages in transition!

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

I've never heard an explanation for this one, but my wild guess would be that there was some actual chap called "Curry" who became (in)famous for doing this for some reason.