Ovine affairs

ruzuzu "Random word" led me to blissom, which led me here.

I'll note that at last Saturday's rodeo, I watched some local children participate in mutton bustin' as a novelty act between the steer wrestling and the barrel racing. Jan 31, 2011

sionnach Changing this picture to a link, so as not to frighten reesetee.

leben coat of arms Oct 1, 2009

bilby Are you in a lather over feathery teen-bompey? Jan 28, 2009

sionnach These variants seem distinctly more pornographic somehow. Jan 28, 2009

bilby It's also interesting how this is being ascribed to the 'Plymouth Indians'.

But much as I adore bompey, it's just not bumfit. Jan 28, 2009

sionnach To the Editor of Notes and Queries :

Four correspondents have seut me four different versions of a method of counting, said to have been employed by the " Plymouth Indians " in New England. Dr. J. A. S., of Portland, Maine, gives the following, as learned in Claremont, N. H., thirty years ago :

I.

" Een, teen, tether, fether, fitz (or ftps), sather, lather, gother, dather, dix, een-dix, teen-dix, tether-dix, fether-dix, bompey, een- bompey, teen-bompey, tether-bompey, fether-bompey, giget."

II.

Mr. G. P. K., of Indiana, gives a somewhat different version :

" Eeny, teeny, ether, fether, ftp, satha, latha, ko, darthur, dick, een- dick, teen-dick, ether-dick, fether dick, bunkin, een-bunkin, teen- bunkin, ether-bunkin, fether-bunkin, digit."

III.

H. W. H. gives another plan for counting one to fifteen :

" Ain, tain, feathery, fip, arte, slatur, debbery, dick, aintic, taintic, feathertic, bumpit, ainbumpit, tainbumpit, gee-kit."

IV.

Dr. F. M. W., of New York, tells me he learned the Indian method of counting in Coos County, N. H., many years ago, thus :

" Een, teen, tether, fether, pimp, **, * *, **. * *, tix, eentix, teentix, tetherix, fetherix, swampit."

The words for 6, 7, 8, and 9 have escaped his memory. This method of counting is peculiar in the designation of 16 as one-and- fifteen, 17 as two-and-fifteen, etc. Most of the differences are within phonetic bounds, as dick, dix, and tix for ten, and digit or giget for twenty; but the words for fifteen, bompey, bunkin, swampit, vary greatly. Apparently No. Ill is imperfect, and the bumpit should stand for fifteen instead of twelve as given.

Can any reader of Notes And Queries contribute another version, or indicate which of the above is more nearly correct ? Is it correct to ascribe these to the " Plymouth Indians ? " Any information relative to the subject will be welcome.

H. Carrington Bolton, Hartford, Conn.


Hmmmm. Could those Plymouth Indians ever have taken a package holiday in Wales? one wonders Jan 27, 2009

sionnach The Sheep
by Ellis Parker Butler


The Sheep adorns the landscape rural
And is both singular and plural—
It gives grammarians the creeps
To hear one say, “A flock of sheeps.�?

The Sheep is gentle, meek and mild,
And led in herds by man or child—
Being less savage than the rabbit,
Sheep are gregarious by habit.

The Sheep grows wool and thus promotes
The making of vests, pants and coats—
Vests, pants and coats and woolen cloths
Provide good food for hungry moths.

With vegetables added to
The Sheep, we get our mutton stew—
Experiments long since revealed
The Sheep should first be killed and peeled.

Thus, with our debt to them so deep,
All men should cry “Praise be for Sheep!�?—
And, if we happen to be shepherds,
“Praise be they’re not as fierce as leopards!�? Nov 14, 2008

frindley Ow. That looks like it would hurt. Nov 10, 2008

sionnach trivet: Don't forget the awesome power of the 'image search' button, which can conjure up a flock to meet your specifications in three shakes of a lamb's tail. Nov 10, 2008

trivet Sionnach, I love this list - 'specially the rare sheepies (even if you're missing my favorite). Nov 9, 2008

bilby What a timely comment on the result of the New Zealand general election. Nov 9, 2008

sionnach
Nov 9, 2008

bilby Not that I'm a little tittle-tattling title griper. No. Nov 9, 2008

sionnach floppy-eared frustration as fickle fox fiddles with list name Nov 9, 2008

bilby This list used to be Hidden Sheep, in case anyone is wondering why I suggested jewess on a list titled Ovine Affairs.

But that's what happens when you leave a fox in charge of the sheep. Nov 9, 2008

bilby I don't know wether that's a good thing. Nov 8, 2008

mollusque Are you feeling sheeplist bilby? Nov 8, 2008

bilby jewel, caramel, muttonfish, anagram, brewer, framboise, chafeweed, millilambert, calambour, ashram, jewess, lambast, sewer, drama, leisurewear flambe, peewee, vigilambulism, sacrament, buckram, paramagnet, farewell, malambo, eschewed. Nov 8, 2008