Nautical phrase of the day...
A irregular ongoing series of phrases providing conversation resources
for the average boater.To LAUNCH something - to LAUNCH into: Derived from the French lancier (to pierce) - the boat pierces the water. Historical note: The Vikings, discoverers of America, China, Fiji and
Antarctica in addition to populating Mongolia and Minnesota, tied slaves
to the boat's launch skids to "grease" the way. Usuage: To LAUNCH into a discussion about the appropriate type of posts. |
Short
Feb 16
|
| I was the first born Cali person. Parents and brother moved from the
Nebraska, Wyoming border. When mom talks about -40 degrees, glad I grew up
10 blocks from SF Bay. But some of the relatives were Norsemen and
grandfather came from Ireland, so probably a Viking relative via that way
also. the Norman's were actually Vikings. Frog talk for Northmen according
to some sources. |
Calif
Feb 18
|
| Hey Teach, question: Can one also have LAUNCH on his boat at noon? |
JimH
Feb 16
|
| Another Norse tradition was sacrificing a virgin on the ways when a
new boat was launched. Red wine was eventally substituted, as it was
deemed easier to find and less costly to waste than a perfectly good
virgin. That's one of a few competing reasons advanced for the use of
wine when a modern vessel is "christened." |
Chuck
Feb 16
|
| Wine which was poured on the bow or into the boat as a "christening"
sometimes blessed as opposed the breakage of the bottle. I'm pretty sure the Vikings used beer. |
Short
Feb 16
|
| Hey, ya gotta find something to do on a boring, cold Friday night. Eisboch |
RCE
Feb 16
|
| Kill a few slaves, sacrifice a virgin or two, launch a long boat, spill
some beer, pillage/rape and loot England, France, colonize Japan and
Nebraska. Those were the days I tell you - those were the days. |
Short
Feb 16
|
| >Hey, ya gotta find something to do on a boring, cold Friday night. Gosh yes, even here in SWFL paradise it is going down to 39 tonight,
frost warnings inland. We're going out cruising for the weekend however, leaving tomorrow
morning with our 2 generators, massive battery banks, large inverter,
AND an electric blanket. Is that decadent or what? Mrs B is not acting very brave about all this, but I promised her we'd
come home if it got too cccold. </uncrossing fingers now> This will be the first real sea trial for the new Honda 20 on the RIB
dinghy. |
Wayne.B
Feb 16
|
| Watch out for the freezing spray. |
Short
Feb 17
|
| More likely Mead. My ancient relatives were not uncouth. |
Calif
Feb 17
|
| Colonized parts of France also. |
Calif
Feb 17
|
| Wine is a very distinct possibility as well. The Vikings referred to
North America as "Vinland", and one of the reasons they established
seasonal colonies here was to grow grapes. |
Chuck
Feb 16
|
| Pizza. A lot of folks don't know this, but the Vikings invented pizza
when they discovered Italy. |
Short
Feb 17
|
| That explains a lot. |
Short
Feb 17
|
| They colonized California? Wow - and here I thought it was Mexicans. Vikings colonizing California - who knew? |
Short
Feb 17
|
| It's also why many Sicilians have blue eyes. Adventurous group, those Vikings. Eisboch |
Eisboch
Feb 17
|
| They invented everything and visited everywhere. It's simply amazing. |
Short
Feb 17
|
