Exploding internet grammar myths

Lysander

Lysander

Lysander

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I was just thinking about words that people think they "know" the root of because they read something on the internet about it. I have thought of a few 'word roots' which are utter hogwash and that people are so keen to believe and tell other people about. The ones I remember so far are:

- A certain word is not an acronym for "for unlawful carnal knowledge".
- Another certain word is not an acronym for "ship high in transit"
- 'Posh' was not an acronym for "port out, starboard home"
- Thomas Crapper did not invent the toilet!

Can anyone think of more?
 
Golf - Gentleman only ladies forbidden

Except that one is true...isn't it?

I'm not sure you thread title really suits what your putting forward, false origins of words would have been a better title. I was convinsed Posh was true as well?
 
MookJong said:
Golf - Gentleman only ladies forbidden

Except that one is true...isn't it?

I'm not sure you thread title really suits what your putting forward, false origins of words would have been a better title. I was convinsed Posh was true as well?
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Hmm fair enough, unfortunately I can't edit the title.

About POSH, Wikipedia says:

A popular but false etymology states the expression originated from the phrase "Port Out, Starboard Home", which, before air-conditioning, were allegedly the most desirable cabin locations on ships travelling to and from British colonies in the Far East because they were shaded from the sun in both directions. However, extensive searching of shipping company records and tickets from that period has failed to reveal any evidence for explicit "Port Outbound, Starboard Home" reservations.
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Golf:

The word golf was first mentioned in writing in 1457 on a Scottish statute on forbidden games as gouf, possibly derived from the Scots word goulf (variously spelled) meaning "to strike or cuff". This word may, in turn, be derived from the Dutch word kolf, meaning "bat," or "club," and the Dutch sport of the same name. But there is an even earlier reference to the game of golf and it is believed to have happened in 1452 when King James II banned the game because it kept his subjects from their archery practice. It is often claimed that the word originated as an acronym for "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden", but this is an urban legend
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Lysander said:
- A certain word is not an acronym for "for unlawful carnal knowledge".
- Another certain word is not an acronym for "ship high in transit"
- 'Posh' was not an acronym for "port out, starboard home"
Click to expand...

WTF :confused: I've never heard anyone claim any of those?

Lysander said:
- Thomas Crapper did not invent the toilet!
Click to expand...

Now I can see how this one may be an internet myth. But the others :confused:
 
He was one of the first people to mass produce them though... and I used to argue that you could use a short form of his name when I was 8 or 9 which was before the internet was really going!
 
Gilly said:
Well done, because chav comes from charver.
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Forgive my ignorance, what is a "charver" and where did that word come from?

Most of these acroynms are made afterwards and are designed to fit in with what the word means really - that's how it appears!

Rich
 
Gilly said:
Well done, because chav comes from charver.



Thought wrong then :)
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charver??

never heard of that...

found this on the reference.com:

The accepted etymology for "chav" is that it derives from the Romani word "chavi", meaning a child. Related words derived from the same source include "charva" meaning prostitute (used in north-east England in a similar sense)
Click to expand...
 
I just remember it as **** which someone with too much time on their hands has picked some words to fit and then said 'luk were it came from guyz' :p
 
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