Facebook fans fuel faggots firestorm

Re: This is disturbing

Since English is in general of French or German origin :

Fagot : Un fagot est un faisceau de petit bois, de branchages. Translated it becomes "a bunch or bundle of small sticks."

It is difficult to know the etyomology of the American adaptation.. Was it maybe to suggest - "a group ( bundle) of men having small penis(sticks)" ?

By the way I notice that there are two spellings Faggot and Fagot......What are the correct spellings for the English food and the American slander term ?

Re: This is disturbing

Actually the full online OED at www.oed.com does have an entry for the meat(-ish) product, it's in section 5 (out of 9).

Re: This is disturbing

I followed the link to oed.com and found this:

5. (See quot. 1851.)

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 227/2 He..made his supper..on ‘fagots’. This preparation..is a sort of cake, roll, or ball,..made of chopped liver and lights, mixed with gravy, and wrapped in pieces of pig's caul.

FWIW I just hoiked my copy of the "Shorter" off the shelf. That's the one that comes in two large and heavy volumes. Neither of the meanings under discussion is listed in the main body of the dictionary, but both are in the Addenda at the end.

Re: This is disturbing

From the online Oxford English dictionary

From practical experience.

I used to eat these frequently in the 60's (the Brain's factory that made them was just a mile or so away) and I have eaten them in the last few years too.

They were served up for dinner at Frenchay Hospital (2 years ago), and my Dad looked forward to them when they were on.

www.oed.com does know about edible faggots was Re: This is disturbing

Aksherly:

The full Oxford English Dictionary has an awful lot of definitions for "faggot", including (from http://www.oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=faggot&_searchBtn=Search):

5. (See quot. 1851.)

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 227/2 He..made his supper..on ‘fagots’. This preparation..is a sort of cake, roll, or ball,..made of chopped liver and lights, mixed with gravy, and wrapped in pieces of pig's caul.

1858 G. A. Sala Journey due North 308 The curious viands known in cheap pork-butchery..as Faggots.

1881 in Oxford Gloss. Supp.

I've gained some considerable entertainment thinking about what our cousins over the pond might make of the OED's definitions under "faggot". Such as:

7. A person temporarily hired to supply a deficiency at the muster, or on the roll of a company or regiment; a dummy. Obs.

1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew, Faggots, Men Muster'd for Souldiers, not yet Listed.

1708 Brit. Apollo No. 105. 4/1 You may be some Faggot to pass at a Muster.

a1753 P. Drake Mem. (1755) II. iii. 75 The Adjutants..came to treat and settle with me about the Fagots (Men deficient of the Number of Workmen, ordered from each Regiment).

1756 Ld. Chesterfield Connoisseur No. 102. 618 William, a Faggot in the First Regiment of the Guards.

1802 in C. James New Mil. Dict.

8. = faggot-vote n.

1817 Sir F. Burdett in Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 1368 These faggots..returned the two members to the House of Commons.

1879 Daily News 16 Apr. 6/6 He..had not the slightest doubt he would win, unless he were to be swamped by faggots.

1884 Truth 13 Mar. 374/1 The art of manufacturing fagots.

Re: This is disturbing

"Note for visiting Americans: You must not use the word 'pardon' when in England. To do so implies that..."

...You are middle class who thinks its upper class to use French words everywhere, like 'serviette'.

Use "What?" like everyone else.