Re: Albanian words for eyebrow


"Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:445E6A13.7FEA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
António Marques wrote:

Peter T. Daniels wrote:

"Maikäferliebhaber" (a person having a loving interest in
chafers).

What's a chafer?

This has nothing to do, but it's ever so tempting...

Terra tegit terram

Like to the falling of a star,
Or as the flight of eagles are;
Or like the fresh spring's gaudy hue,
Or silver drops of morning dew;
Or like a wind that chafes the flood,
[...] ^^^^^^
Harry King (1664); Rodney Bennett (19xx?); David Tibet (1986)

Not a use of "chafe" that would be possible in the 21st century ...

Not so sure. Seems a reasonably obvious metaphor, from the usual current
meaning of the word -- the only one, according to my Shorter Oxford, except
for the figurative intransitive one, meaning to fret or fume, which I can't
imagine anyone actually saying, although it's common enough in more formal
written registers. Though there's also the idiom "chafing at the bit",
meaning "eager to start" and based on the way a restive horse chews on its
bit -- is that what you're thinking of?

In the poem, the effect of the wind on the water is being compared with an
item of clothing, say, chafing one's skin.

John.



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Albanian words for eyebrow
    ... chafers). ... Not a use of "chafe" that would be possible in the 21st century ... ... meaning of the word -- the only one, according to my Shorter Oxford, except ... BTW, what's a chafing dish? ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Albanian words for eyebrow
    ... chafers). ... Or like a wind that chafes the flood, ... The wind blows out, the bubble dies; ... And Earth covers Earth ...
    (sci.lang)