tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184575347466163757.post4351727119813351003..comments2023-07-03T08:51:01.209-05:00Comments on What Powderfinger Said . . . Observations on Life in the Dying Empire: Oh, Yes There Is . . .Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00111660094586126379noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184575347466163757.post-82188120167028539862011-03-16T18:30:34.942-05:002011-03-16T18:30:34.942-05:00Very cool.Very cool.Montaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00017648070522030951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184575347466163757.post-79656840046196184322011-03-16T12:40:54.828-05:002011-03-16T12:40:54.828-05:00I like your analysis. According to the OED, the wo...I like your analysis. According to the OED, the word is of American origin. 19th century. It speculates connection with "snallygaster" a mythical monster which derives more understandably from "schnelle Geister." So we have a connection with something horrible and frightening. All very apt.<br /><br />Here's what the OED says:<br /><br />snollygoster, n. <br />Pronunciation: /ˈsnɒlɪgɒstə(r)/<br />Etymology: Perhaps connected with SNALLYGASTER n., which is, however, of more recent appearance.<br /> <br />U.S. dial. and slang.<br /> <br /> A shrewd, unprincipled person, esp. a politician. Also in other more or less fanciful uses.<br />===================================<br /><br />snallygaster, n.<br />Pronunciation: /ˈsnælɪgɑːstə(r)/ /-gæs-/<br />Etymology: < German schnelle geister, lit. ‘quick spirits’.<br />U.S. dial. <br /> <br /> A mythical monster supposedly found in Maryland. Cf. SNOLLYGOSTER n.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00111660094586126379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184575347466163757.post-2132471981480882822011-03-16T04:49:16.205-05:002011-03-16T04:49:16.205-05:002 on-line dictionaries
goster: (Northern English ...2 on-line dictionaries<br /><br />goster: (Northern English dialect) <br />to laugh uncontrollably, or to gossip.<br /><br />"A Warwickshire Word Book"<br />goster: to brag, to swagger, to boast (Midlands, and elsewhere).<br />(Staffordshire) to bray.<br />It is also used as a noun, and the adjective is "gostering"<br />---------<br /><br />The braying like an ass seems to head us in the right direction. I sense it might have meant "a knee-slapper" as well as an arrogant political type.<br /><br />I don't get "goster" from "geist" since English already has "ghost" and it is enshrined, as it were, as "the Holy Ghost" in the liturgy, so having another form is a bit odd.<br /><br />Lastly, if we look at schnell (fast) and Geist (spirit) a bit, we get a funny feeling that finally resolves itself into:<br />"For the Dead travel Fast" or "Denn die Todten reiten schnell" which is a quote from Stoker's "Dracula". If there is a parallel between politicians and the undead vampires, it may be very apt.Montaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00017648070522030951noreply@blogger.com