I had to look up "bolthole." It's "a hole by which to bolt or escape; figurative a means of escape" (OED).
1877 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. Bolt-hole, (1) the hole by which a rabbit makes its escape when the ferret pursues it. (2) Any unknown hole by which a person makes his way into or out of a house....A very rabbit-y concept.
1924 E. Marsh tr. La Fontaine Fables 71 [The hare] heard a rustle, And took the hint to bustle Off to his bolt-hole.
1932 H. Simpson Boomerang xii. 306 A girl who had been jilted might choose any bolt-hole to hide her shame....
And while I'm here in the OED, let me look up "lockdown" (a word that we're seeing a lot this week and that I suspect will not go away for a long time). The oldest meaning is "a piece of wood used in the construction of rafts when transporting timber downriver." That goes back to the 19th century. The next oldest meaning of "lockdown," dating only to the 1970s, is the prison meaning — keeping prisoners in their cells for a long time (notably after an outbreak of violence). Most recently, going back to 1984, the word came into use to refer to "A state of isolation, containment, or restricted access, usually instituted as a security measure; the imposition of this state." Examples:
1999 Computerworld 11 Oct. 8/1 (heading) Many users plan Y2K lockdowns.I heard NY Governor Andrew Cuomo struggling with the word on this morning's "The Daily" podcast. He said it was a scary word, and he didn't want to use it. It would mean that people are required to stay inside their own homes, and he wanted to assure New Yorkers that he would not do that, yet it was obvious that he was going to say that whether it was true or not, as he openly talked about the problem of causing a destructive stampede to the stores.
2002 Quill (Nexis) 1 May 34 We heard the city was on lockdown and that it wasn't possible to get in.
2005 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 3 May 3/5 Contestants go into lockdown tomorrow isolated from the outside world as they prepare to enter the Big Brother house on Sunday.
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Last week, Cuomo said that he would order prisoners to dig pits for all the dead from COVID-19. That's how you know this is all bullshit.
The planned federal response depends on voluntary compliance over a 15 day period, but DeBlasio is already talking about mandatory shelter at home. Cuomo's point is that he can't do it alone: he'd need neighboring states to cooperate. We've already obliterated our economy by govt mandated shutdown. If governors start to impose martial law, we are going to obliterate our civil society as well. I also think mandatory "shelter at home" is just not going to work in NYC, short of very heavy handed enforcement which will require the military. Cuomo is playing with fire.
I can't be the only one who saw "butthole" at first glance.
I read "bolthole" as "butthole", mostly because I had just finished reading this Reddit thread titled: "‘Cats’ fans demand Universal Pictures to ‘release the butthole cut’"
At first glance it looked like $14 million Canadian brothel.
And no, they're not "on lockdown".
Because "hanging out at their mansion" doesn't sound as scary as being locked in a hole.
Let's all crowd into urban areas, ride public transportation, office share, re-use grocery bags, and share bicycles and scooters. Cities are vibrant, you can mingle with other cultures, foodies can visit all the interesting restaurants, and leftists rule. What could go wrong except a riot or two, extreme crowding, an epidemic, and the occasional lockdown?
Fredo Cuomo may be afraid to use the word---but certainly the folks who run San Francisco County aren't afraid to. But their "lockdown" does not include or apply to the homeless on its streets.
The news is that Canada let them back in. They were making a farewell tour of the UK so could have gotten stuck there. That is, Harry could have gotten stuck there. Meghan and Archie as U.S. citizens can still get into the U.S.
My husband and I were just talking about them this morning! She's been pushed from the news. We were thinking she would perhaps announce she's being tested for the Corona Virus, like Olga the former Bond girl
I hope they have an adequate supply of toilet paper!
Getting rid of those Royal twits was one of the greatest accomplishments of the American Revolution.
That is, Harry could have gotten stuck there. Meghan and Archie as U.S. citizens can still get into the U.S.
Harry's married to an American so would be admitted.
Harry and Megan are only interesting in a trainwreck sort of way.
"Harry's married to an American so would be admitted"
Moot point, since Megan's said she won't enter the U.S. so long as Orange Bad Man's in the Oval Office, which is the best case to make for his re-election.
I think the novel coronavirus is going to turn out to be a short-story coronavirus, or maybe a strongly-worded-letter coronavirus.
“ We were thinking she would perhaps announce she's being tested for the Corona Virus, like Olga the former Bond girl.”
Are you suggesting that celebrities and would-be celebrities will fakely claim to have the virus?
The Hole in the Wall Gang
You can decide who is "Butch"
And they announced this morning that the are launching Sussex Global Initiative. A non-profit to address... well they haven't figured out what exactly it will address, but they have lots of ideas!
The conferred with Hillary! and her team on the set-up, so we can rest assured it's all kosher and above-board.
Your mileage may vary.
they left the exemption part off of Page 6
Canada closing its borders to noncitizens over coronavirus. How does it affect Americans?
Curtis Tate
USA TODAY
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that the country would be closing its borders to non-Canadian citizens or permanent residents to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The move included a notable exception: U.S. citizens would still be permitted to cross into Canada.
"For the moment, that measure does not apply to U.S. citizens," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.
Are you suggesting that celebrities and would-be celebrities will fakely claim to have the virus?
yes. press is good press
celebrities are just beautiful politicians after all
Ann Althouse said...
Are you suggesting that celebrities and would-be celebrities will fakely claim to have the virus?
People are pissed celebrities are getting coronavirus testing despite having little or no symptoms
Are you suggesting that celebrities and would-be celebrities will fakely claim to have the virus?
Hahahahaha no! I would never suggest such a thing! ;-/
I did see a celebrity announce they were being tested, which seemed like an attention ploy. And Olga the Bond girl interested me because she got her name in an article with Tom Hanks and Idris Elba. It reminded me of your greatest idea ever, that Zza Zza was trying to die at a particular time because 2 other really big celebrities had just died, and it would be a really good "Celebrities die in threes" cycle for her.
U.S. citizens would still be permitted to cross into Canada.
So nothing in that headline was true: no lockdown, no bolthole, no closed border.
Thanks for the guided tour of the OED rabbit hole. I have been reading Eric Clapton’s autobiography with the OED nearby. What my husband and I have always called “Beatle Boots” I have now learned are winklepickers. You can do your own research on why winklepickers are called winklepickers...
Blogger NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...
Ann Althouse said...
Are you suggesting that celebrities and would-be celebrities will fakely claim to have the virus?
People are pissed celebrities are getting coronavirus testing despite having little or no symptoms
I noticed that last week. But there should be NO SURPRISE. The self-anointed elite talk a good game, but when TSHTF, they will take care of themselves first.
I NEED TP FOR MY BOLTHOLE!
poor wittle royals... locked in a butthole.
"Are you suggesting that celebrities and would-be celebrities will fakely claim to have the virus?"
Jussie Smollett
There are many things I care about in this world. Royalty of any type isn't one of them. I'd go as far as to say that royals are one of the things I couldn't possibly care less about. YMMV.
Is the plural of Trudeau Trudeaux?
"Spider hole” would have been better.
Oso Negro said...
I noticed that last week. But there should be NO SURPRISE. The self-anointed elite talk a good game, but when TSHTF, they will take care of themselves first.
Trump got asked about this during today's presser.
The Markle's British security detail may be stuck with them for the duration. I've heard they were on rotation. Perhaps the Canadians will make an exception, but how would they fly?
"Fredo Cuomo may be afraid to use the word"
Fredo is Chris. Andrew is the more capable brother. I guess.
Are you suggesting that celebrities and would-be celebrities will fakely claim to have the virus?
Said Captain Renault.
The Canada US border is now closing to all non-essential travel.
P.S. How did Andrew Cuomo become the governor of all of us? I understand that 9/11 gave Giuliani the spotlight in 2001, but the media is very NewYorkcentric now, when the virus is a national - indeed, a global - problem, and Cuomo is on the air all the time.
Getting tested for Chinese Wusan Coronavirus is going to become a status symbol. Especially if you can get a celebrity doctor who has been featured on ABCBSNBCNN to test you. “My doctor, who happens to be famous, isn’t sure if I have it. So just to be on the safe side I’m taking a chartered G-5 to isolation in Aruba. Ta Ta.”
the perkie katie hill, was claiming she had the covid, even though she didn't present any symptoms, although her practices leave something to be desired,
“Is the plural of Trudeau Trudeaux?”
No. “Catastrophe.”
A bolthole, as any reader of the Daily Mail knows, is a reasonably private place in the country where you can escape the city and be left alone.
Need I explain the meaning of pins, ample assets, and peachy posterior?
Fredo is Chris. Andrew is the more capable brother. I guess.
Fredo is the Yalie. Along with Hunter Biden and the PhD who says Trump is crazy, but won't opine about Biden.
What has happened to Yale?
Char char holio, that is funny, I don’t care who you are. ( As someone said.)
Char char holio, that is funny, I don’t care who you are. ( As someone said.)
#MeToo VersionWuFlu
If New York told me I have to stay home, not even groceries or walks in the outdoors, I'd just say "I'm an illegal" or "I'm homeless." Because a 65-year-old illegal or homeless person who is sneezing and coughing while stealing after pooping in the streets can do as she likes while a 65-year-old citizen maintaining distance cannot buy groceries she'd pay for or walk in the parks - unless the citizen says she is an illegal or homeless. You can't be challenged or arrested after that in New York and, if you are, you have to be released at once and charges dropped.
By the way, what is New York doing about the elderly and those with compromised immune systems who are living on the streets?
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