meaning of tingo

I just finished browsing through a book entitled "The Meaaning of Tingo
and other extraordinary words from around the world'' by Adam Jacot de
Boinod and was immediately struck by some errors he has committed. For
example, he states "The French invented the word ordinateur supposedly
in order to avoid using the first two syllables of the word computer
(con is slang for vagina and pute for whore)." This claim is utter
rubbish. He also defines the Yiddish/Hebrew "tsuris" as "grief and
trouble from a child," but the term is definitely not restricted or
even primarily related to children as in the word "nakhes."


My lack of fluency in many other languages precludes me from a making
judgements on other claims and I was wondering if anyone can cite other
examples that show that the author's scholarship is wanting.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: The Greeks had a word for it. ...
    ... > How come only German has a word for 'a person who leaves without paying ... thanks to Adam Jacot de Boinod ... There is a word for the ring you put in the nose of a calf ...
    (misc.writing)
  • The Greeks had a word for it. ...
    ... the bill' (Zechpreller) or that Albanians need 27 words for moustache? ... thanks to Adam Jacot de Boinod ... There is a word for the ring you put in the nose of a calf ...
    (misc.writing)