A Touch Of QI

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 7:14 am

A few minutes ago, for no other reason than a combination of idle curiosity & boredom I looked up "Thesaurus" on Thesaurus.com, just for the hell of it.

Whilst there I came across a lovely word - "Onomasticon".

I then went to look it up on Dictionary.com, where I was presented with a pop-up asking "What is the 'X' in 'X-mas'. Still curious (and bored) I followed the link, which is, in itself, also Quite Interesting.

The “X in “Xmas — Learn the sacred, 1,000-year-old meaning of the “X | Dictionary.com Blog

FG-administator · Post by **FG-administator** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 4:59 am

The Post Office used to publish onomastica and deliver them free to their telephone subscribers. Before then there was Kelly's Directory. I suppose the Thompson Guide is today's equivalent.

High Threshold · Post by **High Threshold** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 8:49 am

FourPart;1470162 wrote: A few minutes ago, for no other reason than a combination of idle curiosity & boredom I looked up "Thesaurus" on Thesaurus.com, just for the hell of it.

Whilst there I came across a lovely word - "Onomasticon".

I then went to look it up on Dictionary.com, where I was presented with a pop-up asking "What is the 'X' in 'X-mas'. Still curious (and bored) I followed the link, which is, in itself, also Quite Interesting.

The “X in “Xmas — Learn the sacred, 1,000-year-old meaning of the “X | Dictionary.com Blog

I've always assumed the “X is derived from “Christ/cross, as in sox for socks, drive thru for drive through, and Bill for ... uh ... William.

FG-administator · Post by **FG-administator** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 8:58 am

While not idle or bored, I did look up a receipt today in the inestimable Book of Household Management by Mrs Beeton - I had earlier acquired a turbot and needed advice. Mrs Beeton notes:An amusing anecdote is related, by Miss Edgeworth, of a bishop, who, descending to his kitchen to superintend the dressing of a turbot, and discovering that his cook had stupidly cut off the fins, immediately commenced sewing them on again with his own episcopal fingers. This dignitary knew the value of a turbot's gelatinous appendages.I feel both edified and impressed at the gifts left us by our forebears.