Was it deprecatory before it was specific to species? Was it children-speak? The idea that the word was so strong that it traveled to France as "dogue" is especially profound. Also that Spanish "perro" (=dog) has the same obscure origin. Dogs and humans have been speaking for a long time.
I have spent far too much time looking up the origins of "bitch," for obvious reasons. That lineage is a little more clear but it also goes back a loooong way.
Tommy, you always have the BEST recommendations in your newsletter. I can't wait to pick up 'Riverman' 👍
I'm about 100 pages in and it's really good.
Something about "dog" I love is that the word is of unknown origin. Something so common yet we have no idea where it originated:
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=dog&ref=searchbar_searchhint
"One of the great mysteries of English etymology"
This site gives some conjecture:
https://www.wordorigins.org/big-list-entries/dog-hound?rq=dog
Was it deprecatory before it was specific to species? Was it children-speak? The idea that the word was so strong that it traveled to France as "dogue" is especially profound. Also that Spanish "perro" (=dog) has the same obscure origin. Dogs and humans have been speaking for a long time.
I have spent far too much time looking up the origins of "bitch," for obvious reasons. That lineage is a little more clear but it also goes back a loooong way.
oh god, hanging out, a lost art...why is it so hard when it's so good. Getting the book.
How to Write a Book was great. 😁