Ask LiveSquid

Dear Mr. LiveSquid:
I heard a guy on tv say that the origin of the word "birdie" in golf comes from a guy whose errant shot hit a bird in flight, causing the ball to land right by the hole so he could score 1 under par. Another source claims that it is from a late 19th century slang, under which "bird" meant "excellent."
Which story is true? Or is there actually some third explanation that is true.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Monkey.
 
Funny. I always assumed that the term birdie came from the fact that golf balls originally had feathers on them and I had never heard either story. According to my contact from the Oxford English Dictionary (their website) they write that the origin of birdie is from the slang bird, meaning any first-rate thing. I trust Oxford.

Which makes me then wonder if girls became known as birds in the 60s and 70s for the same reason. But I think bird in that sense comes from chick. But why call girls chicks?
 
LiveSquid said:
...

Which makes me then wonder if girls became known as birds in the 60s and 70s for the same reason. But I think bird in that sense comes from chick. But why call girls chicks?
Click to expand...

online etymology dictionary says that "chick" used in the "young woman" sense is first found in print in 1927 Elmer Gantry.
 
precocious said:
What about 'bird brain'? :p
Click to expand...

Cuz most birds is dumb.

monkfish said:
online etymology dictionary says that "chick" used in the "young woman" sense is first found in print in 1927 Elmer Gantry.
Click to expand...

Thats when, but why? Oh, it just hit me! Maybe it stems from W.C. Fields saying "My little chickadee." Therefore girls are chickadees and it was shortened to chick. Now 'tomato' I think will always elude me.
 
LiveSquid said:
Funny. I always assumed that the term birdie came from the fact that golf balls originally had feathers on them and I had never heard either story. According to my contact from the Oxford English Dictionary (their website) they write that the origin of birdie is from the slang bird, meaning any first-rate thing. I trust Oxford.

Which makes me then wonder if girls became known as birds in the 60s and 70s for the same reason. But I think bird in that sense comes from chick. But why call girls chicks?
Click to expand...

precocious said:
What about 'bird brain'? :p
Click to expand...


Preco, why would you call a young girl a bird brain?
 
monkfish said:
online etymology dictionary says that "chick" used in the "young woman" sense is first found in print in 1927 Elmer Gantry.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it has something to do with the term "Mother Hen"? :rolleyes:
 
DanC said:
Preco, why would you call a young girl a bird brain?
Click to expand...

Who said I was referring to a young girl? I only posed the question of 'bird brain',.......bird brain.......
 
Dear LiveSquid -

Before I blow my top, can you please tell me if construction of the USS New York is complete?

Thank you -
PugGirl
 
Yes it is, PugGirl. The 24 tons of WTC steel used in that ship was melted down 'just down the road' in Amite. The ship was built here in NOLA and its status is listed as out and working.

Its capable of carrying 700 fully equipped marines and 360 sailors. Its the fifth ship named New York and one of a new class of amphibious warship specifically meant for (among other things) kicking the butts of terrorists.
* USS New York, USS Arlington and USS Somerset will be part of a nine-vessel fleet of new amphibious transport ships

* Length: 208.5m (684ft) — more than twice as long as the Statue of Liberty

* Beam: 31.9m (105ft); weight: 24,900 tonnes; speed: 22 knots

* Equipment: helicopters, landing craft, amphibious vehicles, missile launchers

* Crew: more than 1,000, comprising 361 ship’s company plus 699 marines
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
QUOTE: specifically meant for (among other things) kicking the butts of terrorists.

Bet that wasn't on the website he visited! :rofl:
 
LiveSquid,

What is the average airspeed of an unladen swallow?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top