Difference between revisions of "The jebel and the jpysian sea"

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Between the devil and the deep blue sea – an old nautical term
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* '''between the devil and the deep blue sea:''' (''phrase'') an old nautical term; it originally referred to the seam in a ship's hull on or below the waterline, which was called the ''devil''; being difficult of access, it made the task of caulking the ship's hull a difficult and dangerous one; therefore the term means, "stuck between two equally unpleasant options"
  
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The meaning relates to 'The Devil' – the name given to the seam in the upper deck planking next to a ship's waterways. There was very little space to get at this seam, making it a difficult and dangerous job. Therefore the term means 'stuck between two equally unpleasant options'.
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* '''jebel:''' (''Arabic'') mountain
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* '''Egyptian''' → the Israelites, when they were wandering in the wilderness between the Jam Suf (Sea of Reeds) and Horeb (Mount Sinai) were "between the ''jebel'' and the Egyptian Sea" (Exodus 15-18)
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* '''gypsum:''' a soft mineral from which plaster of Paris is made
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* '''gypsy:''' a member of a nomadic people of Indian origin → gypsies were once thought to be of Egyptian origin
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* '''jabber:''' to chatter; to gabble or talk rapidly
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* '''jypsian sea:''' Japanese sea → Sea of Japan

Latest revision as of 11:59, 30 November 2006

  • between the devil and the deep blue sea: (phrase) an old nautical term; it originally referred to the seam in a ship's hull on or below the waterline, which was called the devil; being difficult of access, it made the task of caulking the ship's hull a difficult and dangerous one; therefore the term means, "stuck between two equally unpleasant options"
  • jebel: (Arabic) mountain
  • Egyptian → the Israelites, when they were wandering in the wilderness between the Jam Suf (Sea of Reeds) and Horeb (Mount Sinai) were "between the jebel and the Egyptian Sea" (Exodus 15-18)
  • gypsum: a soft mineral from which plaster of Paris is made
  • gypsy: a member of a nomadic people of Indian origin → gypsies were once thought to be of Egyptian origin
  • jabber: to chatter; to gabble or talk rapidly
  • jypsian sea: Japanese sea → Sea of Japan
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