Silliness Quiz - Page 108

Shayne Parkinson · 02-26-2011, 04:06 AM

Bedtime down here. If anyone solves it before I'm back (or if you just get tired of waiting), please go ahead and post another question.

Reposting question:

Quote:

Apart from sharing their first two letters, what do these words have in common?
waggle, waistcoat, wake, walnut, walrus, wampum, wan, want

Remember, you only get a gold star if you get the answer without using a search engine.

Note: the order isn't specially significant; I just put them in alphabetical order to be tidy.

Mortis · 02-26-2011, 04:49 AM

They are all found in the front half of the letter "W" in the dictionary?

Total guess

Shayne Parkinson · 02-26-2011, 04:52 AM

True, but not quite what I'm after.

It's a more... hmm... literary answer.

Mortis · 02-26-2011, 05:09 AM

They are all words used in the first line of the first chapters in each of the Harry Potter Books?

GeoffC · 02-26-2011, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Parkinson

Bedtime down here. If anyone solves it before I'm back (or if you just get tired of waiting), please go ahead and post another question.

Reposting question:

Note: the order isn't specially significant; I just put them in alphabetical order to be tidy.

Oh ! I honestly thought that was significant

- hence my earlier answer ....

poohbear_nc · 02-26-2011, 12:32 PM

waggle is a Hobbit word isn't it? as I recall?
which suggests a Tolkien connection?

Shayne Parkinson · 02-26-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mortis

They are all words used in the first line of the first chapters in each of the Harry Potter Books?

Checking *that* would've been interesting.

I'll go out on a limb and say no.

Shayne Parkinson · 02-26-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

waggle is a Hobbit word isn't it? as I recall?
which suggests a Tolkien connection?

Well, this is interesting! "Waggle" dates back to the 16th century, and while I think it's in The Hobbit (beards waggling), it's not hugely uncommon elsewhere.

But: you're right. There's a Tolkien connection with all these words, and it's not to do with whether they're found in his fiction. Would you care to say what the connection might be?

Bilbo1967 · 02-26-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Parkinson

Well, this is interesting! "Waggle" dates back to the 16th century, and while I think it's in The Hobbit (beards waggling), it's not hugely uncommon elsewhere.

But: you're right. There's a Tolkien connection with all these words, and it's not to do with whether they're found in his fiction. Would you care to say what the connection might be?

Tolkien was a Professor of English I believe. He certainly didn't invent those words, so did he write about them in some way? In a dictionary?

Shayne Parkinson · 02-26-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Tolkien was a Professor of English I believe. He certainly didn't invent those words, so did he write about them in some way? In a dictionary?

Ding ding ding! And how appropriate that you should get the answer, Bilbo.

Early in his career, JRRT worked on the first edition of the OED, providing etymology and definitions for words near the beginning of the Ws.

More on this:

http://www.oed.com/public/tolkien/

Bilbo1967 · 02-26-2011, 03:36 PM

Thanks Shayne. It would have been pretty apt if Stitchawl had got it too - I'm pretty sure his avatar is something to do with the OED.

Next question then:

Whose memoirs were discovered in a Leicestershire, UK saleroom in 1965? They tell of his involvement in the Indian Mutiny, the Charge of the Light Brigade and the battle of Little Big Horn amongst many others.

Shayne Parkinson · 02-26-2011, 03:43 PM

Oh, this must be Sir Harry Paget Flashman, the cad! I've read all that's been published on him, and was sad that Fraser died with so much still unwritten.

Bilbo1967 · 02-26-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Parkinson

Oh, this must be Sir Harry Paget Flashman, the cad! I've read all that's been published on him, and was sad that Fraser died with so much still unwritten.

Indeed it is. Much too easy for a real fan

I just introduced a friend to the Flashman books - I am so jealous that he now gets to read them all for the first time!

Shayne Parkinson · 02-26-2011, 03:51 PM

Oh, yes, what fun to get to read them for the first time!

Taking refuge in making up another a cryptic clue:

No backward rouseabout is difficult. (Seven letters)

SneakySnake · 02-26-2011, 04:20 PM

hmmmm sheep and shearing Q?

onerous?

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02-26-2011, 04:49 AM	#1607
Mortis Canucklehead in Malaysia Posts: 1,633 Karma: 3127774 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Device: iPhone, Kindle	They are all found in the front half of the letter "W" in the dictionary? Total guess

02-26-2011, 04:52 AM	#1608
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	True, but not quite what I'm after. It's a more... hmm... literary answer.

02-26-2011, 05:09 AM	#1609
Mortis Canucklehead in Malaysia Posts: 1,633 Karma: 3127774 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Device: iPhone, Kindle	They are all words used in the first line of the first chapters in each of the Harry Potter Books?

02-26-2011, 12:32 PM	#1611
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,593 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	waggle is a Hobbit word isn't it? as I recall? which suggests a Tolkien connection?

02-26-2011, 03:36 PM	#1616
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	Thanks Shayne. It would have been pretty apt if Stitchawl had got it too - I'm pretty sure his avatar is something to do with the OED. Next question then: Whose memoirs were discovered in a Leicestershire, UK saleroom in 1965? They tell of his involvement in the Indian Mutiny, the Charge of the Light Brigade and the battle of Little Big Horn amongst many others.

02-26-2011, 03:43 PM	#1617
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	Oh, this must be Sir Harry Paget Flashman, the cad! I've read all that's been published on him, and was sad that Fraser died with so much still unwritten.

02-26-2011, 03:51 PM	#1619
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	Oh, yes, what fun to get to read them for the first time! Taking refuge in making up another a cryptic clue: No backward rouseabout is difficult. (Seven letters)

02-26-2011, 04:20 PM	#1620
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	hmmmm sheep and shearing Q? onerous?

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