Skip to main content

Today's word/phrase

It is quite interesting to see how some words are originated.

'Quarter':

To spare the life of an enemy in one's power- or to grant a quarter to an enemy. Both shows the same meaning.This word originated from an ancient agreement between te Dutch and the Spaniards that the ransom of a soldier should be a quarter of his pay.  This might have meant to 'grant condition'. In this sense quarter was commonly used once. 




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Do You Know this?

The Woolsack: The woolsack is a large red cushion on which the Lord Chancellor sits in the House of Lords.  The origin of the custom is in this way:  During the time of Queen Elizabeth I, wool was considered as a very valuable commodity and was considered as a source of national wealth.  Many people were employed in this industry.  An Act was passed prohibiting the export of raw wool from  England. To remind the judges of this law, the Queen ordered that each of them when in the House of Lords should sit on a cushion or sack stuffed with wool. Hence originates the name woolsack.

TODAY'S WORD/PHRASE

'BADGE OF POVERTY': In the reign of William III those who received Parish relief had to wear a badge (with the letter P together with the initial of the Parish)  in red or blue cloth on the shoulder of the right sleeve, whence it is used to denote a poor person.

INSPIRATIONAL WORDS

GOD AND RELIGION "In studying books we are sometimes deluded into thinking that thereby we are being spiritually helped; but, we analize the effect of the study of books on ourselves, we shall find that at the utmost, it is only our intellect that derives profit from such studies, and not the inner spirit.  This inadequacy of the book to quicken the spiritual growth is the reason, why although almost every one of us can speak most wonderfully on spiritual matters when it comes to actions and the living of a truly spiritual life, we find ourselves so awfully deficient.  To quicken the spirit, the impulse must come from another soul".                                    -Swami Vivekananda