paul mann Posted June 6, 2015 Report Posted June 6, 2015 Does anybody knah the origin of the word 'gully' for kitchen knife?
Brian Cross Posted June 6, 2015 Report Posted June 6, 2015 (edited) According to Google a Gully is simply a big Knife used years ago Edited June 6, 2015 by Brian Cross
paul mann Posted June 8, 2015 Author Report Posted June 8, 2015 Seems too simple, I thought it would have Norse origins. But my trusty Oxford Dictionary says a gully is indeed a large kitchen knife - origin unknown.
threegee Posted June 8, 2015 Report Posted June 8, 2015 According to Merriam-webster the first known use as a knife was from 1582, and the first known use as a ditch, or water course, etc. is from 1637. Origin: "probably alteration of Middle English golet ravine, throat". Origin of gulletMiddle English golet, from Old French goulet, from goule, throat, from Latin gula. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th edition)
pilgrim Posted June 9, 2015 Report Posted June 9, 2015 maybe a hybrid?? a very large kitchen knife and throat? could it be down to the pig killing at end of the year? have a listen to the national archive of audio recordings re the pig killing and other things which are fascinating
Canny lass Posted June 9, 2015 Report Posted June 9, 2015 It's got a diminutive ending - might be something to do with guillotine perhaps?
threegee Posted June 10, 2015 Report Posted June 10, 2015 We know a website all about those! http://www.guillotine.dk/pages/history.html Interesting that his name was Dr. Guillotin. Simply a coincidence or a derived moniker?
Canny lass Posted June 10, 2015 Report Posted June 10, 2015 Gruesome Reading 3g - except for Sanson's operating of the device "in dead earnest". That caused a chuckle but perhaps I have a warped sense of humour. It's no coincidence that the doctor's name was Guillotin. That was his real name and the Word guillotine is an eponymous construction - just like watt, wellington, stetson and volt. Even though the device was around long before the good doctor revolutionised legal murder, by making it more humane, it wasn't called a guillotine until the late 18th Century in honour of his work.
threegee Posted June 11, 2015 Report Posted June 11, 2015 Sorry for not making myself clear. I meant a coincidence between the Latin gula (derived French goulet) and the surname Guillotin. I sort of imagined that the Dr may have had gully or similar manufacture in his family line and was simply expanding the family franchise! OK, not a perfect match, but close enough to wonder. Thanks for eponymous; I was groping for the word, but in the moment it escaped me!
paul mann Posted June 11, 2015 Author Report Posted June 11, 2015 Gully, guillotine, gullet - seems like there should be a connection.
Canny lass Posted June 12, 2015 Report Posted June 12, 2015 I Always thought it was slang, so I was surprised when Brian's post showed otherwise.
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