Scribellos.

Conor · 07-15-2012, 03:16 PM

From "A Certain Dr Thorndyke".

Quote:

"Containing in all, thirty-nine large tusks and fifty- one scribellos?"

Anyone know the word? Only four hits on Google, and three refer to the book. The fourth is "Scrib, ellos". Google Translate says it's Spanish, but doesn't translate it.

Quexos · 07-15-2012, 03:25 PM

Ellos simply means "them" in Spanish.
Hope it helps

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conor

From "A Certain Dr Thorndyke".

Anyone know the word? Only four hits on Google, and three refer to the book. The fourth is "Scrib, ellos". Google Translate says it's Spanish, but doesn't translate it.

HarryT · 07-15-2012, 03:32 PM

From the wider context, it's clearly some sort of ivory. I'd guess that it perhaps means immature tusks.

Conor · 07-15-2012, 04:08 PM

I'd assumed it was something like that. It's odd though. There are words and idioms in R A Freeman's books that have gone out of use, but are easily looked up. "Kickshaws" and "Wigs on the green", for example.

Quexos · 07-15-2012, 04:10 PM

Tell me about words and idioms out of use. I recently read Lovecraft and he's rather good in that department.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conor

I'd assumed it was something like that. It's odd though. There are words and idioms in R A Freeman's books that have gone out of use, but are easily looked up. "Kickshaws" and "Wigs on the green", for example.

susan_cassidy · 07-15-2012, 05:58 PM

Scribellos isn't in the OED.

HarryT · 07-16-2012, 03:45 AM

I suppose it's possible that it's a typo, but I have an paper version of the book, and it's in there, too.

Conor · 07-16-2012, 04:44 AM

A typo of what, though? Google Search is good at suggesting the correct word. Nobody here can suggest it either.

HarryT · 07-16-2012, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conor

A typo of what, though? Google Search is good at suggesting the correct word. Nobody here can suggest it either.

Indeed. It's all a bit of a mystery.

Format C: · 07-16-2012, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conor

From "A Certain Dr Thorndyke".

Anyone know the word? Only four hits on Google, and three refer to the book. The fourth is "Scrib, ellos". Google Translate says it's Spanish, but doesn't translate it.

I think it's a sort of allitteration of "scrivello", which is an elephant's tusk.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrivello

elcreative · 07-16-2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Format C:

I think it's a sort of allitteration of "scrivello", which is an elephant's tusk.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrivello

Or type scrivello into google and get 40K+ hits, first one detailing as elephant tusk which fits context for scribello which is either typo or casual variant...

Using the link require activating a trial account with merriam-webster!

Conor · 07-16-2012, 10:34 AM

Thanks. I could have sworn I'd checked that spelling. Have/haben etc.

BeccaPrice · 07-16-2012, 10:37 AM

I love this forum. Where else could such an obscure word have been found?

HarryT · 07-16-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conor

Thanks. I could have sworn I'd checked that spelling. Have/haben etc.

Excellent! Mystery solved.

robko · 07-16-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Excellent! Mystery solved.

Except that I'd swear I can remember seeing this word somewhere else recently and for the life of me I can't remember where

!!

07-15-2012, 03:32 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	From the wider context, it's clearly some sort of ivory. I'd guess that it perhaps means immature tusks.

07-15-2012, 04:08 PM	#4
Conor Groupie Posts: 153 Karma: 1011234 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Kobo Touch	I'd assumed it was something like that. It's odd though. There are words and idioms in R A Freeman's books that have gone out of use, but are easily looked up. "Kickshaws" and "Wigs on the green", for example.

07-15-2012, 05:58 PM	#6
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Scribellos isn't in the OED.

07-16-2012, 03:45 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I suppose it's possible that it's a typo, but I have an paper version of the book, and it's in there, too.

07-16-2012, 04:44 AM	#8
Conor Groupie Posts: 153 Karma: 1011234 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Kobo Touch	A typo of what, though? Google Search is good at suggesting the correct word. Nobody here can suggest it either.

07-16-2012, 10:34 AM	#12
Conor Groupie Posts: 153 Karma: 1011234 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Kobo Touch	Thanks. I could have sworn I'd checked that spelling. Have/haben etc.

07-16-2012, 10:37 AM	#13
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I love this forum. Where else could such an obscure word have been found?

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