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Ah yes, Martin, I'd read that Great Exhibition example as well. Perhaps the secret etymological pedigree will be found in Nosy Parker's library. <g> I don't get how wearing your heart on your sleeve is 'complementary' to being a nosy parker. Please explain. Judy 2009/5/8 Martin Walker <[log in to unmask]> > Probably I should have spelt it "nosy parker" . Another theory has to do > with the guardian of Hyde Park at the time of the Great Exhibition 1851 (?) > having to check all the freaks & perverts snooping around hoping for a > glimpse of - whatever. But Judy's story has precedence. It was a very > common > term in my youf. The most damning insult I ever received was at grammar > school - two mates (guys, blokes, chaps) took me aside & told my about my > bad character, the main point being that I wore my heart on my sleeve, > which > is the complementary position to nosy parker = voyeur (there were plenty of > them hanging about on the commons & in the parks, never bothered me... > > Creator - A comedian whose audience is afraid to laugh. > H.L.Mencken > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Judy Prince > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 8:18 PM > Subject: Re: question (UK) > > > Wow. Just last night reading about Norwich, Norfolk, I came across info > about Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury during QE1's reign. The > source [not providing citations] said that one of Parker's duties; viz, to > oversee the clerics, earned him the name "Nosy Parker". A nother source I > googled for citations, though, gives several source-possibilities for the > phrase: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-nos2.htm > Parker's library [holding many manuscripts from HVIII's > monastery-dismantling days] must be a fascinating repository. > > Best, > > JP > > 2009/5/8 Martin Walker <[log in to unmask]> > > > Yes, in fact, nosey parker! > > mj > > Creator - A comedian whose audience is afraid to laugh. > > H.L.Mencken > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Judy Prince > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 7:23 PM > > Subject: Re: question (UK) > > > > > > Speaking for yourself? > > JP > > > > 2009/5/8 Martin Walker <[log in to unmask]> > > > > <snip> - remember: sexual > > > intercourse began in 1963 etc. > > > mj > > > Creator - A comedian whose audience is afraid to laugh. > > > H.L.Mencken > > > > > >