Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | May 13, 2009 06:02am | #1

   Which tack do you want?  The one on the sail, that often has a cringle, the one that tells you from which side of the boat the wind comes from--like the starboard tack, or the verb that is the action of changing from the starboard to port tack, but you only tack when going into the wind, otherwise you wear or gybe to change tacks.  And one might think woodworking has some arcane terms and usage. 

   All these distinct from the one you place on the teacher's chair, or the ones made with a sewing machine.

1. 
   joinerswork | May 13, 2009 04:48pm | #2

   Steve,

   You can tack with an arc welder too, or wait for glue to tack.  But wearing that shirt you wiped your gluey fingers on, to Wal-mart; that is just tacky.  Forest Girl has some tack for her hosses I bet.

   Ray

1. 
   Jfrostjr | May 13, 2009 06:14pm | #4

   I went for a ride on "plane" the other day.We traveled over a vast "plain" of tall grass.The cabin attendant was a very "plain" looking girl.But, I forgot about that when I bought a new "plane" for my shop.How does ANYBODY learn the English language?Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922

2. 
   Wingdoctor | May 13, 2009 06:27pm | #5

   The teacher asked the little hillbilly boy to spell rat. He thought a minute and asked "Do you mean the little furry animal, or "rat now?"

   Bruce"A man's got to know his limitations." Dirty Harry Calahan

1. 
   EdHarrison | May 14, 2009 07:36am | #6

   I once told this girl in Australia who was always losing her keys that she obviously needed a fanny pack. Got a look you could've used for arc-welding.

1. 
   Jfrostjr | May 14, 2009 03:30pm | #7

   Down under "fanny" is the term reserved for a female's 'private parts'. No wonder you got the stare.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922

1. 
   EdHarrison | May 14, 2009 03:35pm | #8

   Thank you Frosty. I figured it out after living there a couple years."Yes, but what's good for me ain't necessarily good for the weak-minded." - Augustus McCrae, Lonesome Dove

2. 
   RalphBarker | May 13, 2009 05:25pm | #3

   Specialized vocabulary is the verbal equivalent of the "secret handshake". Every special-interest group has their own vocabulary, and the overlap in the use of specific terms ("tack" is a great example) makes it all the more fun. Back when we used flint and copper tools, a plough/groove was called a . . . (makes straight-line gesture with index finger). ;-)