Apparently I misunderstood you, Martin. I'm gonna get Robin to work this
all out; he's a research engine the likes of which p'raps only his Scottish
research-preceder-of-the-OED may've been more focused for longer periods of
time. But, then, we all can't be Scottish, alas.
And I do think that Flatears' theory is hilarious, if not probable.
Best,
Judy
2009/5/8 Martin Walker <[log in to unmask]>
> I don't quite get you, Judy - Partridge says there is such an association
> in
> historical slang. So there was nothing very clever about referring to both
> the actual mangle & the metaphorical one in one phrase - but its use
> apparently diminished when the slang term lost its currency. There is no
> connection with "wet behind the ears", whatever Flatears may maintain.
> 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 4:01 PM
> Subject: Re: question (UK)
>
>
> You would turn all honest labour to naughty business, Martin. And everyone
> knows that the foundation of all knowledge, honesty, humility, and love is
> what Gustave Courbet painted so nicely, his "L'Origine du Monde". [His
> "Man
> with Pipe" self-portrait's his most sublime work, I think, tho.]
> Despite your preoccupation with all things pudend, you still cannot find a
> citation-connection between it and a mangle, huh? More's the pity. Surely
> there's a first step towards the phrase which's much more prosaic than
> that,
> I'm thinking. I only remember from girlhood that our mangle was a washer,
> part of which were rollers that when fed the clothing thru, wrang them of
> washwater. I understand that the mangle was, tho, by itself an earlier
> form
> of a washer. Your own connection between 'pudend' and 'mangle'; viz, that
> whoring paid more than laundering, sounds at least plausible. But somehow
> it seems too clever to've had common use.
>
> And how do we, in any event, link "Has your mother sold the mangle yet?" to
> "wet behind the ears"? Maybe not at all. Only my strange fierce notion of
> a relationship, p'raps.
> I do wish to be a liddle dormouse in London at that time and hearing them
> say these phrases, not as now, having to depend upon the scribblers of the
> phrases. The speakers of "Has your mother sold her mangle" would've known
> its meaning, for goodness' sakes! Only wish WE did.
>
> Best, and thanks for the enlightened help,
>
> Judy
>
> >
>
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