tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post9132130547898612595..comments2024-03-26T18:01:57.609+00:00Comments on Inky Fool: The Grosser GrocerM.H. Forsythhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01464964455944509750noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-6940318001714374802010-06-08T13:32:23.656+01:002010-06-08T13:32:23.656+01:00Anon,
Gross as opposed to net is simply large or c...Anon,<br />Gross as opposed to net is simply large or complete. Net is related to neat and comes from Old French net (pure, bright) because it's what remains after the chaff has been removed. That comes from Latin nitidus (trim beautiful) from nitere (to shine) from Proto Indo European *nei (to shine).<br />Curious Georgina,<br />There was a fad in the 1920s for the possessions of animals: the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers etc, which were all variants on the bee's knees, where the honey is. However, the first recorded use of the phrase, in 1949, was in reference to a colon followed by a dash :-, which looks vaguely obscene.<br />A colon followed by a dash is also a symptom of diarrhoea.M.H. Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01464964455944509750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-65352056173148697382010-06-08T13:17:06.697+01:002010-06-08T13:17:06.697+01:00In reference to the long purples, is that where th...In reference to the long purples, is that where the phrase "the dog's bollocks" comes from?Curious Georginanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-60552266881848780342010-06-08T13:14:46.755+01:002010-06-08T13:14:46.755+01:00what about "gross" as opposed to "n...what about "gross" as opposed to "net"? I suppose that has something to do with "gross" meaning "total", "complete" - an extension of the sense of "large". Actually, why "net"? Does it have anything to do with nets?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com