http://wordie.org/words/doldrums Comments for the word 'Doldrums' http://wordie.org http://wordie.org/words/doldrums#comments The region of calm winds, centered slightly north of the <a href="/words/equator">equator</a> and between the two belts of trade winds, which meet there and neutralize each other. It is widely assumed that the phrase "in the doldrums" is derived from the name of this region. Actually, it's the other way about. In the 19th century, "doldrum" was a word meaning "dullard; a dull or sluggish fellow." <br /> <br />The region now called the the Doldrums wasn't named until the mid-19th century, and the naming came about as the result of a <a href="/words/misapprehension">misapprehension</a>. When reports of ships that were <a href="/words/becalm">becalm</a>ed in that region described them as being "in the doldrums," it was mistakenly thought that the reports were describing their location rather than their state. -- <em>from The Phrase Finder</em> Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:36:18 +0000 http://wordie.org/words/doldrums#comments http://wordie.org/words/doldrums#comments If you're in the doldrums you're <a href="/words/down in the dumps">down in the dumps</a> Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:12:15 +0000 http://wordie.org/words/doldrums#comments