Re: Re: Steers

From: Roderick and Ellen Robertson <rjremr_at_...>
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 12:24:23 -0700


> Don't you worry. In German, "Bulle" has the connotation of going to be
> slaughtered (but is used for studs, too, depending on the region) whereas
> "Stier" usually is used for studs only. I suppose the Anglo-Saxon usage
> could well be like modern German.

Bulls are the least "useful" members of the cow species, and are the ones slaughtered first (or turned into steers). After all, you only need one bull for a good-sized herd of cows.

Nope, the AS for bull is "Fearr" or "Hrither". (interesting enough, an AS word for "storm" is "Hrith" make of that what you will...)

> Funnily, I read "Styrman" with my Norse spectacles, and got Steering Man,
> or helmsman, he who directs the herd (or in this case the stampede).
>
> Ain't linguistics wonderful?

Love it :-).

Steer (the castrated bull) comes from steor, a masucline word. Steer (direction) comes from steor, a feminine word. Steormann means "steersman, pilot of a ship" as opposed to "castrated bull-man". And people thought English became complicated only with the Norman invasion!

RR
It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has done what he has done.
- Richelieu

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