Forum - The Origins of Chicanery..."Why A Duck?" @ marx-brothers.org |
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Forum - The Origins of Chicanery..."Why A Duck?" @ marx-brothers.org |
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| Author | Topic: The Origins of Chicanery... |
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srtallio
Big Cheese Posts: 13
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posted 12 September 2000 10:44 PM
I'm just wondering if anybody knows whether or not the word "chicanery" was entered into the English language due to that rascal of the Marx Brothers, namely, Chico himself. It just came to me one day because of the similarity of spelling, so I decided to check it out in the dictionary and what do I find? The definition states, "Chicanery: To trick someone using confusing but clever language." Now, doesn't that sound a lot like Chico and his particular brand of "chicanery"? Most times, the dictionary states also where a word originates from, such as "France" or "South America", but this one said "origin unknown"; does anyone have any ideas or answers about it? |
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Franko
Grand Exalted Imperial Almighty Omnipotent Stomper Posts: 121
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posted 12 September 2000 11:19 PM
I'm afraid Webster's online, while it doesn't point out an origin, dates the word to 1609. I checked my own copy of the American Heritage Dictionary (yes, we still use books in our home) who claim it's from the Old French word, "chicaner," to quibble. Though I like your idea better! Frank ------------------
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