the expression used to be common among Anglo-Indians, e.g., "My new Arab is the real chīz"; "These cheroots are the real chīz"
*kʷo- became Latin quī "who", the dative plural of which is quibus. The OED says quibus occurred frequently in legal documents and so was associated with unnecessary complexity. It was borrowed into English as quib "An expression or point that serves to delay or obscure an argument; a quibble", and "A jibe, a taunt; a quip". It was later altered to quibble.
6 comments:
Latin reduplicated form of *kʷid-kʷid- used as an adverbial accusative:
quidquid: To whatever extent, by how much, the further. quidquid progrediebantur, magis magisque, etc. (Livy)
(Source: CT Lewis. Elementary Latin Dictionary)
I'm afraid that I can't think of anything that's a quidquid in modern parlance though.
What a wonderful etymology. I was unaware of cīz; (I really should read Hobson-Jobson someday). It makes the faux French la grande fromage [sic] a doubly tasty phrase.
Quidquid agis, prudenter agas et respice finem. First Latin phrase I learned :)
Afaik, čīz is also used in Persian (or at least the Tehrani dialect) as the equivalent of English "er" or "um". Sounds really good, almost as good as Finnish "tota" or "niinku".
How do I mention that you can become "the Big Cheese of Your Own Star Trek Universe" without sounding like a moron? http://www.trekyourself.com
Is this also the root of 'Cheese' in the phrase 'Cheese It' to skeedaddle, vamous, flee. 'Cheese it' would then be 'Right and proper thing, it' or 'Do the right & proper thing' and run!
Simon BJ
Simon: The OED seems to say that the "cheese" of "cheese it" is rhyming slang for "thieves":
slang (orig. Thieves'). To stop, give up, leave off. cheese it! = have done! run away!
Post a Comment