So think of the Scottish song that goes: "Will ye go lassie go/ and we'll a
go tegither/ oer the wild mountainside/ all among the bloomin
heather," and how different it would be if the euphemism were replaced by
the original: bleeding heather. What I take to be a mournful reference to
enforced emigration might instead be ironic, as in "we're we'll out of here."
Forgive my attempt at orthography.
I suddenly remember (haven't thought of this for years) climbing Langdale
Pike in soggy August when I was 19 and sliding back down on my ass (arse).
I was wearing white jeans (not the smartest move), and the heather did
bleed beyond washing out. Not easy explaining a purple backside.
In keeping with the folk etymology (which I strongly doubt the accuracy
of--it's a bit too cute), Heather in the song could be a girl's name. I
don't think I should spell this out.
Mark
At 10:46 AM 3/16/2005, you wrote:
> > A family chain restaurant in the States, Outback Steak House (it really
> > doesn't serve 'roo steaks), will use blooming--as in Bloomin' Onion--so
> > it must be fairly innocuous.
>
>... then there's "Drat!", which began in the 1600s as a cover for, "God rot
>his blood and bones."
>
>Part of why this luncacy emerged was because of the anti-blasphemy laws
>which got imposed on the English stage in the late 16thC.
>
> :-(
>
>Robin Roy McGregor Campbell, passing.
>
><"blooming" is innocuous or obscene, depending on the context.>
>
> Wild Young Dickie.
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