Brown Idioms

Several words have become part of the language in being used in phrases. Last time we looked at ‘frog’ and now look at ‘brown’.

Brown sugar, not the Rolling Stones masterpiece, is first seen in 1704. Want a joke? Tough, you’re getting this (which is likely as old as the Stones track): White sugar cubes are rare, brown sugar cubes – Demerara. It is also a slang term for heroin.

Brown Bess, seen since 1785, is the slang name given to the flintlock musket used by the British Army.

Brown study, seen since 1530s, refers to mental abstraction or meditation – fundamentally saying you’re thinking about it but with no proof whatsoever.

Brown paper, the wrapping material, is first recorded as same in 1650.

Brown-nose is first seen in 1939, a reference to one trying to make an impression on one perceived as superior or in authority. Want to know why ‘brown’? Write and ask – but not me, think of someone who does such and ask them.

Brown Shirt, a reference to the Nazi Party militia as they wore same when founded in 1921, later a generic term for a fascist.

Brown out is the same as a black out (or power outage, if you prefer), but leaving a few lights on.

Brownie can be one of three things: a square of rich chocolate cake since 1897; a younger member of the guiding movement since 1916; a type of camera from 1900; or originally a benevolent goblin haunting houses in Scotland, and had been since 1510.

Brown bag, and I don’t just mean a brown bag, but a brown bag containing a lunch or hidden alcohol.

Brownfield, since 1992 has referred to abandoned or disused former industrial land.

Brownstone, a building material made from a darker form of sandstone which is first named as such in 1849.

As brown as a berry is seen since 1400, when it was used in one of the most famous publications in medieval history – Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. However unlike today, when it is used to describe someone with a good sun tan, Chaucer used it to refer to a horse “His palfrey was as broune as is a bery” (sic).

Browned off is first seen in 1948, and is widely associated with the British military and particularly the RAF. Origins of the term? Nobody has the foggiest idea. Incidentally, the similar phrases ‘brassed off’ and ‘cheesed off’ have equally unknown beginnings.

Sir Francis Lyttleton Holyoaks Goodricke

On Saturday 30th May 1835 outside the Guildhall in Lichfield, Mr W Hand, the Under Sheriff, announced Sir Francis Lyttleton Holyoaks Goodricke had been elected MP for Staffordshire South. This was greeted by cheers which drowned out much of the hisses (note, no booing). The victor spoke of his thanks and reiterated his proposals on which he had been elected. He was then placed on a handsomely decorated chair on which Sir Francis would be transported to a celebratory reception at the Swan Hotel.

Things did not go quite to plan, for almost as soon as he was seated and the seat lifted the crowd's mood changed. Hooting began and accompanied by a rain of apparently rotten eggs. Worse followed when stones were thrown and, when one hit and cut his cheek, he vacated the seat before further injuries followed. The chair carried on its ceremonial route but the new MP and his party arrived at the Swan Hotel by a different route.

Just what gripe the crowd had was never recorded, although perhaps it was something to do with the count - for he had recorded a majority of just 24 votes over his opponent Colonel Anson.

Etymological Gems

Following on from previous weeks when I have reproduced the research behind various articles on etymology, I came across the following snippets of information. I have made no notes regarding publication, nor do I remember being asked to write anything or submitting a single paragraph on the subject. I'm now wondering if I have upset an editor by failing to submit anything - in which case I shall probably regret this post!

agate - the English word is from the Latin achates or Greek akhates, both understood as 'the diminutive one'.

amethyst - is from Latin amethystus itself from the Greek amethustos which translates as 'anti-intoxicant', for amethyst was once thought to be a remedy for intoxication.

beryl - can be traced back to Greek beyllos and Sanskrit vaidurya, which is thought to be ultimately from the city of Velur in southern India. The word is also used in Middle Latin berillus, Middle High German berille and French besicles all referring to 'spectacles', all adding support to the idea that beryl was first used for the lens in eyeglasses.

coral - is derived from a Semitic word, seen in Hebrew goral, meaning simply 'pebble'.

cornelian - a variety of chalcedony, derived from Old French cornelle 'cherry' and thus 'cherry-coloured'.

diamond - it may seem strange to suggest this most desirable of gemstones has an idetical etymology to the word 'adamant' yet this is just the case. Diamond came to English from Old French diamant, itself from Latin diamas and Greek adamas meaning 'unbreakable, unyielding'.

garnet - can be traced back to the Old French gernat meaning 'dark red', although it may be even older and share an origin with pomegranate and refer to the shape and colour of the seeds and pulp as being similar.

jade - comes to English from the Spanish (piedra de) ijada meaning '(stone of the) flank', this refers to it being held to be a cure for renal colic.

jet - came to English from Old French jaiet, Latin gagates, and Greek gagates lithos meaning 'the stone of Gages', the name of a town and river in Lycia associated with the stone. It is not used a colour until the fifteenth century.

onyx - is a Latin word derived from the Greek onux 'claw, fingernail'. Hence there is a similarity drawn between the white vein on a pink background found in onyx and the similar marking on a fingernail.

opal - a word which can be traced through Latin opalus and Greek opallios to Sanskrit upala which simply means 'gem, precious stone'.

pearl - there are two equally possible origins for this word, depending upon if this referred to the pearl or to the oyster. If it comes from the pearl, then this would be Vulgar Latin pernula 'sea-mussel' and also used for 'ham' to refer to the shape of the shell. Alternatively it comes from the same source as 'pear', referring to the shape of the pearl.

rhinestone - is literally 'the stone of the Rhine', a literal translation of the French caillou du Rhin and referring to where this artificial gem was first produced near Strasbourg.

ruby - is from Latin rubeus 'red'.

sapphire - another which can be traced back to Sanskrit, here sanipriya meant 'sacred to the planet Saturn'.

topaz - was claimed by Pliny to be named from an island off the coast of Arabia, where it was said to be mined. However most linguists point to Sanskrit tapas meaning 'heat, fire'.