Delivery flew around at the same time as modern English (in the 15th century).
Therefore, it is not surprising that, since these courts began to determine the symbols of the authorities, prestige and importance for Britain, a number of maritime terms sailed effortlessly into the language, as it was official.
It is amazing how many of these terms survived and used every day – with most speakers they do not know where they come from or what they really mean.
To begin with, I initially understood: “Cut out Jib.”
For years, as a young man, I thought Jib was something that we wore like a shirt or bib. What kind of clothing was so sharp that it remained a compliment, I asked? What was the well -cut jib in shape?
And of course, no clothes. This is the proportion or the front sail of the ship. These sails pointed to the nationality and character of the vessel in the early years through the crest, symbols and flags. Jib sometimes was the first so visible sign before the flag entered the field of view.
And so, not to love the “incision of one’s jib”, it meant that the early signs of whose character were unfavorable. Whether a person may not be exactly what it seemed.
The next – we all use quite a lot: “By and large.” This is usually used to mean “widely” or “considered”. It comes to us since the 1600s, when even the largest courts are still feeding on the wind. Swimming “by” meant that one was ruled as far into the wind; Swimming “big” shows that the wind strikes directly at the broadest point of the vessel. “By and large” just covered it all.
“Embarrassed” is another admiration. Today, this means that one shocked, surprised or devoid of development. He has roots again in the wind. Saying a maritime plan, the ship was surprised when he collided with so strong that his sails were pressed against the mast, preventing any movement forward.
Our deadline is little related to the wind, much related to navigation, and perhaps my favorite. “As the Flying Raven” is used to determine the shortest distance between the two points on the land. But it has its roots in the open ocean.
It follows from the time when research missions have left England in search of “new worlds” or new routes to old, with only sketch cards that direct them and sometimes real cards. How then to know in what direction the earth was when one progressed?
To answer this question, the court took over the maintenance of the crows on board. It was believed that when they were released, they would fly directly to the nearest land body. And so we still say, “How the crow flies.”
Perhaps the most output, while this term comes to us from England, the practice itself dates much further, to Scandinavia the 8th century. And in this sense, we can say that the phrase has its roots in these original sailors and researchers in Europe: Vikings.
(Adam Yakota de Boynod is the author of meaning tingo)
