Unutterably Silly Quiz

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by issybird

I know the answer to this and I even know the full name of your state, but that's 'cos I'm local. I'll keep schtum.

Me too. But as Yiddish isn't a local language here, I'll just keep quiet.


Stitchawl

[Bookpossum]

Around Oz, we have a number of places named by the Dutch explorers - for example Groote Eylandt up north, and Rottnest Island (from Rats' Nest) near Perth. (The Dutch thought the quokkas, little marsupials, were giant rats.)

So is Rhode Island originally a Dutch name for an island off the coast, which was subsequently extended to mainland territory? I know the Dutch were over your way too, because of New York originally being New Amsterdam, but that's about the sum of my knowledge.

[Daithi]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

I thunk it was as island! d'oh!

Is it named after a place that was really an island?

That is partially correct. It is named after the Greek Island of Rhodes, but that is only part of the story. Why would a state that is not an island name itself after an island? Issy gave everyone a clue.

[Daithi]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

Around Oz, we have a number of places named by the Dutch explorers - for example Groote Eylandt up north, and Rottnest Island (from Rats' Nest) near Perth. (The Dutch thought the quokkas, little marsupials, were giant rats.)

So is Rhode Island originally a Dutch name for an island off the coast, which was subsequently extended to mainland territory? I know the Dutch were over your way too, because of New York originally being New Amsterdam, but that's about the sum of my knowledge.

That was a heck of a guess.

There is a large island off the coast of Rhode Island, and it is so close to the land that most people don't even realize they are on an island when they are on it, and it is where the city of Newport is located. It is kind of like Manhattan. Most people don't even recognize the city is really on an island.

In any event, the Dutch did call the island off of Rhode Island's coast "Roode Eylant", because Roote means red and the island has a red clay shore and during the fall it has beautiful red foilage. However, back in 1500s the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano discovered Block Island off the coast of the mainland, and he called that island "Rhode Island". During the time that Roger Williams founded the state the two stories had become conflated and the island where Newport is located had become Rhode Island (it is now called Aquidneck Island, which is the original native American name of the island).

In any event, none of this explains why the state is called Rhode Island. The reason the state is called Rhode Island is because the official name of the state is actually "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations". So, the name of the state comes from that island off of its coast where Newport is located and Providence which is the biggest city in the state. Most people just shorten the name to Rhode Island because "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" is a mouthful.

Issy knew the real reason is was called Rhode Island even though it isn't an island, but SneakySnake was right that it was named after an island, and Bookpossum was right about the Dutch link. So, any of them should give us our next quiz.

[issybird]

Not me, I'm so close to RI&PP that there's no merit in knowing.

[Bookpossum]

Golly, I can see why the name is shortened to Rhode Island!

Sneaky, you have a go because you made your guess before me.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

Golly, I can see why the name is shortened to Rhode Island!

They couldn't squeeze it onto the license plates.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Me too. But as Yiddish isn't a local language here, I'll just keep quiet.


Stitchawl

Yiddish isn't a local language here, either, but I'm from New York.

[orlok]

Well I think it might be my go (answer to Albatross question...), before I was so rudely interrupted by Daithi .

Here are three circumlocutions used by the US Army. Can you tell me what items they refer to?

1. Frame supported tension structure
2. Hexaform compression unit
3. Aerodynamic personnel decelerator

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by orlok

Well I think it might be my go (answer to Albatross question...), before I was so rudely interrupted by Daithi .

Here are three circumlocutions used by the US Army. Can you tell me what items they refer to?

1. Frame supported tension structure
2. Hexaform compression unit
3. Aerodynamic personnel decelerator

1. a spring of some kind? perhaps in a bedstead?
2. nut. (as in nut and bolt)
3. parachute

[pdurrant]

No, I'm wrong on 1. Hopefully I'm right on 2 and 3.

[poohbear_nc]

1. chair?

[orlok]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

1. a spring of some kind? perhaps in a bedstead?
2. nut. (as in nut and bolt)
3. parachute

2 and 3 are right.

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

1. chair?

Nope.

[poohbear_nc]

1. rubber band?

[orlok]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

1. rubber band?

No...