printed proof, certainly not. and I doubt whether even corpora would
reveal my take to be true. but it's my intuition as a native language
user, and as a representative of a younger generation than I'd assume
your 'control group' comes from. :) in the case of the catkin, I can
understand if the word is still in frequent use because it's a name of
a plant or the part of a plant, I believe that biological names are
slower to fade out because so many are rooted in colloquial & regional
variants that are specialised in a way.
ask anyone under 25 what the first thing is that comes ot their heads
when you say the word 'pussy'. many would definitely say 'pussycat',
but I think a lot of language users would feel that the description
you gave of a catkin, 'very soft and silky', can be used for something
only slightly more controversial.
I'll ruminate on the finnish word, get back to you :)
KS
On 27/09/2007, Joanna Boulter <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Not wanting to harp on here, but I know many, many people who use the word
> pussy to refer to cats and catkins, in fact far more than use it in this
> other sense. I very much doubt that the word has become, as you say, 'out of
> date', and I would certainly take issue with you or anyone who said that
> 'the word's real reference and context' was the female genitalia. Can you
> cite actual printed proof of this? If so, I'd be glad to know of it.
>
> joanna
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "kasper salonen" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:24 PM
> Subject: Re: Snap, 26 September 07 : Rite of Spring
>
>
> yes, don't know why I said tree instead of catkin. I can't believe I
> don't remember what it's called in finnish, but I've picked them on
> many an easter too.
>
> and joanna, I think it's only positive that 'pussy' can only be used
> in a dirty context now -- to use it any other way (e.g. in
> 'pussywillow' or to refer to a cat) would just highlight how out of
> date the word has become, and draw attention away from the word's real
> reference & context.
>
> KS
>
> On 26/09/2007, Joanna Boulter <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > No, no, Kasper, it's what the catkins are called -- pussy-willows,
> > pussy-palms. The catkins look like a cat's folded paw, very soft and
> > silky.
> > I used to pick stems of it with my grandmother as a very small child
> > (help!
> > *how long ago?) to decorate the church for Palm Sunday, and I can't have
> > been the only one of us who used to do this.
> >
> > joanna
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "kasper salonen" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 8:02 AM
> > Subject: Re: Snap, 26 September 07 : Rite of Spring
> >
> >
> > I'm with P on this one, that word is so distracting. even though
> > that's the tree's name, I'd be more careful than this about using the
> > word. someone stoned enough might get the image of a tree with vaginas
> > hanging off it like apples!!
> >
> > the poem is quaint, & nice, & plain. pretty.
> >
> > KS
> >
> > On 26/09/2007, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > Rite of Spring
> > >
> > >
> > > At a small bridge in the Warrandyte road
> > > the creek in a culvert passes under
> > > on its way to the Yarra,
> > >
> > > Andersons Creek no less,
> > > where gold was found just before
> > > the great Ballarat gold rush.
> > >
> > > Warrandytešs rush was lesser.
> > > Now as they say, therešs just
> > > the annual gold of the wattles.
> > >
> > > Thatšs early spring, September,
> > > when I always watch as well
> > > for the rebirth of the willows,
> > >
> > > roadside, creekside, riverside,
> > > freshest green on the Weeping ones,
> > > silver velvet catkins on the Pussies.*
> > >
> > > Great to get there in time with secateurs
> > > and carry home long fronds for the house,
> > > but easy to be too late, and find
> > >
> > > the pussies opened, yellow with their pollen,
> > > less fitted for a long spell in a tall vase.
> > > But surprise: this week I made it,
> > >
> > > my eye caught by fresh willows
> > > not far from home, in Templestowe
> > > where another modest creek seeks the Yarra.
> > >
> > > Wife and dog wait in the car, I tiptoe
> > > through lank grass, lean over a wire fence,
> > > and snip enough fronds to make an armful,
> > >
> > > now a strong display at home.
> > > Where folk look, and guess, wrongly,
> > > as if no-one any more knows pussy willow.
> > >
> > > 26 September 2007
> > >
> > > Max Richards
> > > Doncaster, Victoria
> > >
> > > *From a website:
> > > Pussy willows are dioecious.
> > > There are male pussy willow trees and female pussy willow trees.
> > > The buds, or catkins, on the male pussy willow trees look different from
> > > those on the females.
> > > The male catkins are showier, and it is the branches of the male trees
> > > that
> > > we seek for their "pussy willows."
> > > The catkins of males yield numerous tiny staminate flowers later in
> > > spring.
> > > From the decorator's perspective, it is at this point that the bouquet
> > > has
> > > "gone by."
> > > Likewise, the female catkins will bear pistillate flowers.
> > >
> >
>
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