Title: | The Joy of Lex |
Notice: | A Notes File even your grammar could love |
Moderator: | THEBAY::SYSTEM |
Created: | Fri Feb 28 1986 |
Last Modified: | Mon Jun 02 1997 |
Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
Number of topics: | 1192 |
Total number of notes: | 42769 |
A usage of indeterminate origin, from the North of England. Can anybody explain its origin or provide other, similar (ie. a common word with a totally different and unique meaning). - <without>....meaning "unless" (He can't be coming, without he's caught in the traffic.)
T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
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690.1 | PASTIS::MONAHAN | humanity is a trojan horse | Sun Jul 02 1989 16:54 | 12 | |
A classic from Nottinghamshire is "while" meaning until. When they first put level crossings for road and railway without barriers they put up signs "Wait while lights flash". The Nottinghamshire motorists dutifuly waited for the flashing lights, and then moved ahead into the path of the oncoming train. After a few accidents and more near-accidents someone in authority discovered Nottinghamshire dialect, and all the signs were changed (throughout the country in case a Nottinghamshire tourist wandered abroad). |