More Codswallop. Was: Re: Codswallop

From: David Lloyd-Jones <icomm5.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 11:28:51 -0500

James Higgo writes:

> Clearly DLJ is not aware that there is more than one cod, hence the need
> for the word, cods. For example, we have the Cusk cod, the Pacific cod,
> the Atlantic cod, not to mention the Haddock and Pollock, the Walleye
> Pollock and the White Hake - all of which are cods.

I think this is an interesting point, but incorrect. (Members of this list
must be aware, I'm sure, of the independence of, not to say the total
disjunction between, an idea's being interesting and its having any contact
with truth.) I am aware of the fact. The fact Higgo points to, however, is
correct.

On the other hand I doubt that the classificatory plural that James refers
to is used much more often than the imprecative use of "cods" as a synonym
for codswallop. If at all.

                                                 -dlj.
Received on Wed Jan 26 2000 - 09:18:16 PST