"The history of a linguistic form..."

Merriam-webster.com is fun to read.

I thought I would start this morning with some writing, and, hearkening back to my last post, wanted to include the word "batten" in whatever it was I would write. But, being the exactness freak that I am, I wanted to look it up and, (here I am revealing what a huge dork I am), find out what the origins of the word were so I couldn't screw it up. Funnily enough, I haven't yet had time to write what I had planned.....

Pet peeve: when people use a word/phrase because it sounds familiar or similar to something that is familiar when it's not actually the correct word of phrase. Like when people say "I could care less," and mean that they don't give a darn. Really? So it IS possible for you to care less than you do now? How much less? A lot less? Someone who cares a whole heap about something, cares the most about it that they ever could care, could also care less... (It's I couldn't care less. "There is no way I could care less than I do now".....) I'm getting off topic a little.....

Anyway, here is what I found for "batten."

I saw that it really meant to fatten up or eat-so-much-you-want-to-chuck, or step on someone else's face to get to the finish first. Imagine my horror at the idea that I had been using and understanding this word incorrectly for 24 years! I thought it meant something along the lines of "fasten" or "secure" or "keep out robbers!"

Thanks to the Good Ole Gentlemen, (Mr. Merriam and Mr. Webster:)), I was able to read the three main definitions, one of which included the robbers repellant.

But I thought it was interesting how the word has evolved over time. Batten comes from the Norse word which means to improve: and from there a "batten" is used to reinforce a construction join, certainly improving it (and keeping those thieves out!).

This was way too much fun for me to pass up doing again. Now, not only will I use batten correctly, but I can also use it in more than one way, stretching it to it's full capacity. So I think I'll make today "Etymology Saturday," and try to keep with the tradition.

It's Advent. Good time to start things.