Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

> Forums Rules

A shortened version of the Forums Rules is given below. The full version can be found here.

By maintaining a user account and by posting to these forums, you hereby agree to abide by these rules.

FORUMS RULES - A SNAPSHOT
- Stay safe - protect your privacy and respect the privacy of others
- No abusive, offensive or aggressive postings
- No insults or personal attacks
- No foul language
- No trolling
- No inappropriate or illegal material
- No advertising (including "For Sale" or "Wanted" adverts)
- No crossposting
- No forum spamming
- No defamatory comments
- Avoid using jargon, abbreviations or "text talk"

 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Sayings, Where do they originate?
The Old Lady
post Jan 18 2010, 01:26 PM
Post #1


Unregistered
Where does the phrase, "Keeping Mum" come from? When you have to keep something quiet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Mad Tom
post Jan 18 2010, 02:49 PM
Post #2


Unregistered
QUOTE(The Old Lady @ Jan 18 2010, 03:26 PM) *

Where does the phrase, "Keeping Mum" come from? When you have to keep something quiet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

"mum" meaning silent (hence "keeping mum") is an old word going back at least several hundred years which actually means to be silent, and it is derived from the still older medieaval English "momme" also meaning silent. Obviously it is related to our present day verb "to mumble" - still in common and frequent use.

It is completely unrelated to the word "mum", short for "mummy", meaning mother.
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Hedgehog
post Jan 18 2010, 02:56 PM
Post #3


Virtuoso
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 4266
Joined: 25-May 05
From: Suburbia
Member No.: 3747
Would that be related to the "mummers" who would travel round with plays? I wonder whether they mimed some of it?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Mad Tom
post Jan 18 2010, 03:05 PM
Post #4


Unregistered
QUOTE(Susie @ Jan 18 2010, 04:56 PM) *

Would that be related to the "mummers" who would travel round with plays? I wonder whether they mimed some of it?

There may be a connection, but the immediate origin of "mummers" is the French "momeur" meaning "mask wearer" (in turn from momer - to wear a mask)
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Arundodonuts
post Jan 18 2010, 03:18 PM
Post #5


Virtuoso
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 4955
Joined: 14-May 08
From: Stockport
Member No.: 30881
QUOTE(Susie @ Jan 18 2010, 02:56 PM) *

Would that be related to the "mummers" who would travel round with plays?

Still do Susie. My Morris side does a mumming play - see http://www.adlingtonmorrismen.ik.com/p_Dmummers.ikml We are one of many around the country.
QUOTE

I wonder whether they mimed some of it?

I don't think so. It's certainly all spoken now (bawled rather). Mad Tom's derivation is plausible, but I've also heard it's from the German "mummer" meaning "disguised person". Incidentally, mummers were also often referred to as "guisers" (short for disguisers), giving rise to the modern "geezer".
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
The Old Lady
post Jan 18 2010, 03:40 PM
Post #6


Unregistered
Fascinating. Thankyou folks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Anyone got any other sayings they don't know the origin of?
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Gorf
post Jan 20 2010, 12:58 PM
Post #7


Advanced Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 611
Joined: 12-November 08
From: The Celtic Fringe
Member No.: 44725
I like this website
http://www.phrases.org.uk

You learn all sorts of things.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · Forums Cafe · Next Newest »
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 19th June 2013 - 04:14 AM