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.

Pakistan Place Names Explained

Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the largest Pakistan's cities.

Karachi is reputed as being founded in 1729 as Kolachi and said to have honoured Mai Kolachi, she a fisherwoman who settled here. When her husband was lost in a storm she, despite warnings to the contrary, went to search for him and proved successful. Interestingly her surname is said to come from the Baloch tribe originating from Kulanch, while Mai is a word still used to mean 'respected lady'.

Lahore has a number of suggested origins, most often cited as coming from Ravawar (R to L is common in languages derived from Sanskrit), itself a simplified version of the name Iravatyawar, from the Ravi River or Iravati, she the daughter of Kadru and Kasyapa in Indian mythology. Hindu legend suggests the name comes from Lavpur or Lavpuri meaning 'city of Lava'. This is not molten rock but named after its founder, Prince Lava, the son of Sita and Rama.

Faisalabad means 'the city of Faisal' and named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, a great benefactor to Pakistan. Earlier, during the time of the British Raj, the place was named after the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, Sir James Broadwood Lyall, where the addition of Sanskrit pur or 'city' gave us the name Lyallpur.

Gujranwala means 'abode of the Gujjars' in Punjabi, this tribe of nomads and grazers living in northern Punjab. Some consider their tribal name to be derived from the area around the Caspian Sea, for their ancestry came from this area and the sea's alternative name of Bahr-e-Khizar produced tribal names of Khizar, Guzar, Gujur, Gurjara, and Gujjar.

Peshawar likely comes from the Sanskrit Purushapura, either 'the city of men' or 'city of Purusha', the latter an ancient king, although likely a fictional one as no evidence has been found.

Multan is possibly from the Old Persian word mulastana 'frontier land' or the Sanskrit word mulasthana a Hindu deity worshipped at the Multan Sun Temple.

Hyderabad was named in honour of Ali, the fourth caliph and a cousin of the prophet Muhammad. It translates as 'Lion City' from haydar 'lion' and abad 'settlement'.

Islamabad is derived from two words abad 'settlement', preceded by the religion meaning 'submission to God'.

Quetta is a variation of the Pashto word Kot meaning 'fortress'.

Sukkur is thought to come from the Arabic word shakkar 'sugar' as sugarcane fields were once abundant here.

Sheikhupura was earlier known as Virk Garh or 'Virk fort', this the name of the tribe resident here. Later it became Jehangirabad, named after the Mughal Emperor Jehangir, with the modern name derived from Jehangir's nickname of Shekhu, coined by his mother.

Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.

Nepal Place Names Explained

Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the largest Nepalese cities.

Kathmandu is a Pahari name from the Kasthamandap Temple which once stood in Durbar Square. Sanskrit kastha means 'wood' and mandapa 'pavilion', an obvious explanation of what the former place of worship was made from.

Lalitpur has several explanations for its name, these more legend than etymology. Most often these speak of the god Rato Machhindranath, brought to the valley by three people from Assam in India. One of these three was named Lalit, a farmer who had carried the god here to alleviate the appalling drought conditions. The name is said to come from Lalit and his pur or 'township'.

Birgunj was named after the 11th prime minister, Commanding General Shree Shree Shree Maharaja Sir Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (10 December 1852 to 5 March 1901).

Janakpur is named after the ancient Indian king of Videha, King Janaka reigned around 2,800 years ago.

Tilottama is named after the local river, itself named after an aspara, a celestial nymph in Hindu mythology. Furthermore the word is a portmanteau of two Sanskrit terms, Tila 'sesame seed', or something of similar size, and uttama 'better, higher'. The understanding is of something very small which is still comprised of the finest and most superior qualities.

Tokha is derived from two Newari words, tu 'sugarcane' and khya 'field' and an indication of local delicacy of chaku made from raw sugercane.

Madhyapur Thimi has a number of legends told of how it got its name. We can be sure this area, along with Bhaktapur and Patan, were often battling for superiority for generations. Beginning with Thimi, this is held to be from the term chhemi 'capable people', a reference to their resilience in continuing to live there despite the constant warring. Eventually the name acquired the addition from madhya 'centre' and pu 'city', thus 'the central city of the capable people'.

Chandrapur was named after the prime minister Field-Marshal Maharaja Sri Teen Chandra Shamsher Junga Bahadur Rana, who held office from June 1901 until his death in 1929.

Rajbiraj is named after Rajdevi Temple, with raj meaning 'state' and biraj 'to reside, live'.

Belbari comes from two Nepali names, Bel 'wood apple' (also known as elephant apple or monkey apple) and Bari a tree native to Nepal.

Kirtipur is from the Sanskrit kirti 'glory' and pur 'city'.

Siddharthanagar is from the Buddha's given name of Siddartha, earlier the place was known as Bhairahawa from the deity Bhairava, a manifestation of Shiva.

Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.

Mauritius Place Names Explained

Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the largest Mauritius settlements.

Port Louis is named, as would be expected in a French-speaking nation, after a monarch of that name. Here it is King Louis XV of France, who reigned from 1715 until 1774, albeit the first eight years with a regent as he was only five years old when he succeeded. This also means he was ruling in his own right at 13, when considered having reached maturity.

Curepipe has two suggested origins, some believing it the name of a landowner during the late 18th century. However the more popular idea is that of the French phrase curer sa pipe 'cleaning the pipe', this reminding us that the town was a major supplier of tobacco.

Plaines Wilhems is named after Wilhem Leicknig, a gentleman of Prussian origins.

Riviere Noire translates as 'Black River' and refers to the river bed as the river flows quite slowly and thus the current does not flush away the silt.

Pamplemousses is named from the French for 'grapefruits'.

Grand Port is simply the French for 'large port'.

Cap Malheureux translates as 'Cape of Bad Luck', named because the successful invasion by the British in 1810 who ousted the French. Clearly history records the event not as a skilled tactical victory by the British but sheer bad luck on the part of the French.

Chamarel is named after the Frenchman Charles Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel, who lived here at the beginning of the 19th century. Note locals refer to this place as 'the village of the blacks'.

Flic-en-Flac is thought to be derived from an Old Dutch Fried Landt Flaak or 'free flat land' where the white sandy beach is one of the longest on Mauritius.

La Laura-Malenga was named as in 1859 after a sugar plantation.

Le Pouce is the third highest point on the island and named after its appearance as it means 'the thumb'.

Petit Bel Air is named after its forerunner, the aptly named Bel Air and meaning 'good air' and understood as 'breezy'.

Souillac is named after the man who created this port. Vicomte de Souillac signing the royal order on January 1st 1787.

Triolet refers to a French poetic style and meaning 'triplet'.

Tyack is a Cornish surname, the family held land here in the earliest times. It comes from the Cornish for 'ploughman'.

Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.

Kyrgystan Place Names Explained

Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the largest of Kyrgystan cities.

Bishkek has only been known as such since 1991, prior to that it had been known as Frunze by the Soviet Union from 1925, and as Pishpek when established as a fortress in 1825. Frunze was after the Bolshevik leader Mikhail Frunze who was born here and who died in 1925. The name of Pishkek is thought to be from a Kyrgyz word for a 'churn', one used specifically to make fermented mare's milk, the national drink.

Jalal-Abad is known for its mineral springs, the water from the spa long believed to cure leprosy. Its name comes from Jalal ad Din, who set up caravanserais (early service station)serving travellers and pilgrims to the holy mountain. The suffix of '-abad' or '-abat' comes from the Persian and denotes a place associated with the named person.

Tokmok simply means 'hammer', a reference to it being established as a military outpost.

Kara-Balta translates as 'black axe'.

Kant is the Kyrgyz word for 'sugar', for a sugar plant constructed here in 1930.

Kara-Suu is the Kyrgyz for 'black water'.

Isfana is thought to come from the Sogdian word asbanikat meaning 'the land of horses'.

Toktogul is named after its most famous inhabitant, Toktogul Satilganov a poet and composer (1864-1933).

Batken comes from the Sogdian, an Iranian language, and means 'the city of wind'.

Sulukta comes from the Turkic word zuluk and, with the suffix, refers to a place 'containing leeches'.

Cholpon-Ata is literally 'Venus father' and refers to the mythological protector of the area.

Kok-Janggak is from the Kyrgyz for 'green walnut'.

Pristan'-Przheval'sk is named after the Russian geographer Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky (1839-1888) whose grave is found here.

Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.