"Name this dog!"

On 1/3/05 10:32 AM, in article , "Tim J."
wrote:
. . . .but before we (yes, collectively) go off on an educational
tangent,

Hooo boy, it's a good thing I'm not at work today!

Bill
(who points out that one ought not confuse knowledge with research. For
example, I'm pretty meager at one and pretty damned good at the other.)

"Tim J." wrote in message
...

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.

Oddly (since I used to spend a lot of time on such matters), I dont recall
ever coming across this theory before. At any rate, I suspect a bit of
research will disclose that "dog" predates the development of the Dachshund
breed by a wide margin.

"Dach" is the German word for roof. It doesn't seem likely that there is
any etymological connection there. "Dachs" means badger.....hence the
Dachshund, which was bred to hunt badgers. It's conceivable that there is a
connection here, but given the long tenure of the relationship between dogs
and humans I have a hard time believing that the name of one of many prey
animals somehow got conflated with the entire of class of those used to hunt
them as well as many others.

. . . .but before we (yes, collectively) go off on an educational
tangent, I understand "dachs" has little relevance to the word's current
use. It wouldn't be the first time we *******ized a word out of
convenience.

True. That happens all the time. Take, "*******ize", for example.


Wolfgang

Tim J. wrote:
Tim J. wrote:

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.


. . . .but before we (yes, collectively) go off on an educational
tangent, I understand "dachs" has little relevance to the word's current
use. It wouldn't be the first time we *******ized a word out of
convenience.

"Dog" derives from the Old English "dogca," which became the Middle
English "docca."

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On 1/3/05 10:32 AM, in article , "Tim J."
wrote:
. . . .but before we (yes, collectively) go off on an educational
tangent,

Hooo boy, it's a good thing I'm not at work today!

Bill
(who points out that one ought not confuse knowledge with research. For
example, I'm pretty meager at one and pretty damned good at the other.)

Tim J. wrote:

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.

You insufferable, imbecilic moron! "Dachs" means "badger", not
"dog". Not that your tiny pea-brain can tell the difference.

[ - for those not following the thread...]

jeff (always seeking to oblige)

"Jeff Miller" wrote in message
news:rKlCd.67889$Jk5.13121@lakeread01...

jeff (always seeking to oblige)

Man's best friend.

Wolfgang
what's up, dach?

Jeff Miller wrote:
Tim J. wrote:

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.

You insufferable, imbecilic moron! "Dachs" means "badger", not
"dog". Not that your tiny pea-brain can tell the difference.

Ahhhh. . . all is right in roffdom.
--
TL,
Tim
---------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

"Jeff Miller" wrote in message
news:rKlCd.67889$Jk5.13121@lakeread01...

jeff (always seeking to oblige)

Man's best friend.

Wolfgang
what's up, dach?

Jeff Miller wrote:
Tim J. wrote:

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.

You insufferable, imbecilic moron! "Dachs" means "badger", not
"dog". Not that your tiny pea-brain can tell the difference.

Ahhhh. . . all is right in roffdom.
--
TL,
Tim
---------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

Tim J. wrote:

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.

You insufferable, imbecilic moron! "Dachs" means "badger", not
"dog". Not that your tiny pea-brain can tell the difference.

[ - for those not following the thread...]

jeff (always seeking to oblige)