Does anyone know the etamology of the words windless and gypsy? In other words, why are they called by said terms. I have searched everywhere and cannot find anything. Thanks
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Speling?
Windlass: Middle English wyndlas, alteration of windas, from Old Norse vindâss : vinda, to wind + âss, pole.
Windlass: Middle English wyndlas, alteration of windas, from Old Norse vindâss : vinda, to wind + âss, pole.
Gypsy
I remember reading somewhere that the term "gypsy" was originally used as a pejorative term to describe people from Egpyt.
I remember reading somewhere that the term "gypsy" was originally used as a pejorative term to describe people from Egpyt.
From dictionary.com
[Alteration of Middle English gypcian, short for Egipcien, Egyptian (so called because Gypsies were thought to have come from Egypt).]
[Alteration of Middle English gypcian, short for Egipcien, Egyptian (so called because Gypsies were thought to have come from Egypt).]
What?
I thought it was etymology. Windless comes from the Old English and Middle English (as well as Dutch and German "wind" , closely related to the Icelandic "vindr", and the Goth "vinds", which means "wind". Less comes to us again from the Old and Middle English "læs(sa)", with ties to the Old Frisian "lës(sa)", meaning "less". Don't let anyone ever tell you spelling (and etymology) aren't important! This is according to the 1966 Unabridged Random House Dictionary,,of the English Language. Good thing to have around the house, but not as useful on the boat .
I thought it was etymology. Windless comes from the Old English and Middle English (as well as Dutch and German "wind" , closely related to the Icelandic "vindr", and the Goth "vinds", which means "wind". Less comes to us again from the Old and Middle English "læs(sa)", with ties to the Old Frisian "lës(sa)", meaning "less". Don't let anyone ever tell you spelling (and etymology) aren't important! This is according to the 1966 Unabridged Random House Dictionary,,of the English Language. Good thing to have around the house, but not as useful on the boat .
windless
Dear Paulk Sorry about the spelling error, never one of my strong points. I also found the same word origins. What I want to know is how or why said terms were applied to a marine tool.
Dear Paulk Sorry about the spelling error, never one of my strong points. I also found the same word origins. What I want to know is how or why said terms were applied to a marine tool.
Found this definition for a gypsy winch, thought
a gypsy wheel on steam engine was one which could be used as power take off. Gypsy winch, a small winch, which may be operated by a crank, or by a ratchet and pawl through a lever working up and down. [1913 Webster]
a gypsy wheel on steam engine was one which could be used as power take off. Gypsy winch, a small winch, which may be operated by a crank, or by a ratchet and pawl through a lever working up and down. [1913 Webster]
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