Wordie: Kite: Comments

Comment by John, 6 months ago

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:48:11 +0000

In sailing, a nickname for a spinnaker.

Comment by reesetee, 9 months ago

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:08:36 +0000

Sionnach, that has to be one of the strangest sentences I've ever read. :-)

Comment by VanishedOne, 9 months ago

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:47:58 +0000

Paper, string and wood (the toy): 'A toy consisting of a light frame, usually of wood, with paper or other light thin material stretched upon it; mostly in the form of an isosceles triangle with a circular arc as base, or a quadrilateral symmetrical about the longer diagonal; constructed (usually with a tail of some kind for the purpose of balancing it) to be flown in a strong wind by means of a long string attached.' (OED)

Comment by sionnach, 9 months ago

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:59:24 +0000

If you ever find yourself attacked by kites in the wilderness, bear in mind that the antidote is pomegranates.

Comment by chained_bear, 9 months ago

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:25:41 +0000

And nowhere is there the definition of an amusing flying device made of paper, string, and wood? Sheesh.

Comment by VanishedOne, 9 months ago

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:12:49 +0000

The OED gives the bird first, with the toy first cited with a 1664 quotation; 'a blank cheque or a cheque drawn on insufficient funds or forged from a stolen cheque-book' is dated from the late 1920s.