Difference between revisions of "Caucasus - caucuses"
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Do not confuse the (near) [[homophone]]s '''caucuses''' and '''Caucasus'''. Both are quite rare words, and unlikely to be confused, except by a slip of the mind, or an idiot spellchecker. Both are pronounced'CAWK-a-se (''or'' u ''or'' i) s, {{IPA|ˈkɔːk ə səs}}. Only very careful speakers are apt to distinguish the last syllable, 's<sup>er</sup>s /əs/' for '''Caucasus''' from 'sizz' /ɪz/ for '''caucuses'''. | Do not confuse the (near) [[homophone]]s '''caucuses''' and '''Caucasus'''. Both are quite rare words, and unlikely to be confused, except by a slip of the mind, or an idiot spellchecker. Both are pronounced'CAWK-a-se (''or'' u ''or'' i) s, {{IPA|ˈkɔːk ə səs}}. Only very careful speakers are apt to distinguish the last syllable, 's<sup>er</sup>s /əs/' for '''Caucasus''' from 'sizz' /ɪz/ for '''caucuses'''. | ||
*The '''Caucasus''' (or '''Caucasia''') is the mountainous area of land lying between the Black Sea and the Azov Sea (to the west) and the Caspian Sea (to the east). It is largely characterized by two mountain ranges, the '''Greater Caucasus''' (also known as '''Ciscaucasia''' [~ 'this side of the Caucasus' to the Russians, who largely govern it] to the north, and the '''Lesser Caucasus''' ('''Transcaucasia''') to the south. It has been regarded as the boundary between Europe and Asia since classical times. | *The '''Caucasus''' (or '''Caucasia''') is the mountainous area of land lying between the Black Sea and the Azov Sea (to the west) and the Caspian Sea (to the east). It is largely characterized by two mountain ranges, the '''Greater Caucasus''' (also known as '''Ciscaucasia''' [~ 'this side of the Caucasus' to the Russians, who largely govern it] to the north, and the '''Lesser Caucasus''' ('''Transcaucasia''') to the south. It has been regarded as the boundary between Europe and Asia since classical times. | ||
| − | + | ::'''''[[etymology|Etymological]] note''''': | |
| − | *'''Caucuses''' ( | + | Latin Caucasus, from Greek kaukasis, said by Pliny ("Natural History," book six, chap. XVII) to be from a Scythian word similar to kroy-khasis, literally "(the mountain) ice-shining, white with snow." But possibly from a Pelasgian root kau- meaning "mountain." |
| + | Pliny the Elder's Natural History (77–79 AD) derives the name of the Caucasus from Scythian kroy-khasis ("ice-shining, white with snow"). German linguist Paul Kretschmer notes that the Latvian word Kruvesis also means "ice". | ||
| + | Via Latin Caucasus, from Ancient Greek Καύκασος (Kaúkasos). | ||
| + | {{wip}} | ||
| + | *'''Caucuses''' (the spelling preferred over '''caucusses''') is the [[plural]] of '''caucus'''. A '''caucus''' is a group within a group, usually a pressure group or faction within a political party, set up to promote a particular policy or person. The word originated in the US, where it remains more common. (It forms one way in primaries of determining presidential candidates.) It seems originally to have been a means of controlling the outcome of elections, not just promoting particular candidacies. In early times there is often a sense of a caucus being a controlling group of the elite members of a party, manipulating the votes of ordinary members. | ||
| + | ::'''''[[etymology|Etymological]] note''''': the etymology of '''caucus''' isa obscure. It is first recorded in 1760, often in [[Collocation]] with 'club' or 'society'. One suggestion of its [[etymological root|root]], in [[The Century Dictionary]] (1889), is the post-classical [[Latin]] ''caucus'' drinking-cup, from the Byzantine [[Greek]] καῦκος 'cup'; compare Byzantine Greek καυκίον 'vessel', 'cup' - which may suggest that the '''caucus''' of the elite was, like the classical [[Greek]] [[Symposium]], a drinking party. It was suggested by John Pickering in 1816 that '''caucus''' may have been a mis-spelling of '''caulkers''', implying that the first such club to have politically manipulative effect may have been the'''caulkers'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> club of Boston, a trade association of the men whomade the joints between planking of ships' hulls watertight. (Shipyards have often been focuses of radical political thinking.) In 1872 Dr. J. H. Trumbull, an early specialist in Native American philology, suggested that the word might be derived from the Algonquin word ''caucauasu'', which has the meaning of "one who advises". (Information from ''[[OED]]'' and [[https://www.merriam-webster.com/| Webster's on-line dictionary]]. | ||
{{wip}} | {{wip}} | ||
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[[Category:homophones]] | [[Category:homophones]] | ||
[[Category:etymology]] | [[Category:etymology]] | ||
| + | [[Category:etymological curiosities]] | ||
| + | [[Category:AmE]] | ||
Revision as of 20:34, 17 May 2020
Do not confuse the (near) homophones caucuses and Caucasus. Both are quite rare words, and unlikely to be confused, except by a slip of the mind, or an idiot spellchecker. Both are pronounced'CAWK-a-se (or u or i) s, IPA: /ˈkɔːk ə səs/. Only very careful speakers are apt to distinguish the last syllable, 'sers /əs/' for Caucasus from 'sizz' /ɪz/ for caucuses.
- The Caucasus (or Caucasia) is the mountainous area of land lying between the Black Sea and the Azov Sea (to the west) and the Caspian Sea (to the east). It is largely characterized by two mountain ranges, the Greater Caucasus (also known as Ciscaucasia [~ 'this side of the Caucasus' to the Russians, who largely govern it] to the north, and the Lesser Caucasus (Transcaucasia) to the south. It has been regarded as the boundary between Europe and Asia since classical times.
- Etymological note:
Latin Caucasus, from Greek kaukasis, said by Pliny ("Natural History," book six, chap. XVII) to be from a Scythian word similar to kroy-khasis, literally "(the mountain) ice-shining, white with snow." But possibly from a Pelasgian root kau- meaning "mountain." Pliny the Elder's Natural History (77–79 AD) derives the name of the Caucasus from Scythian kroy-khasis ("ice-shining, white with snow"). German linguist Paul Kretschmer notes that the Latvian word Kruvesis also means "ice". Via Latin Caucasus, from Ancient Greek Καύκασος (Kaúkasos).
- Caucuses (the spelling preferred over caucusses) is the plural of caucus. A caucus is a group within a group, usually a pressure group or faction within a political party, set up to promote a particular policy or person. The word originated in the US, where it remains more common. (It forms one way in primaries of determining presidential candidates.) It seems originally to have been a means of controlling the outcome of elections, not just promoting particular candidacies. In early times there is often a sense of a caucus being a controlling group of the elite members of a party, manipulating the votes of ordinary members.
- Etymological note: the etymology of caucus isa obscure. It is first recorded in 1760, often in Collocation with 'club' or 'society'. One suggestion of its root, in The Century Dictionary (1889), is the post-classical Latin caucus drinking-cup, from the Byzantine Greek καῦκος 'cup'; compare Byzantine Greek καυκίον 'vessel', 'cup' - which may suggest that the caucus of the elite was, like the classical Greek Symposium, a drinking party. It was suggested by John Pickering in 1816 that caucus may have been a mis-spelling of caulkers, implying that the first such club to have politically manipulative effect may have been thecaulkers' club of Boston, a trade association of the men whomade the joints between planking of ships' hulls watertight. (Shipyards have often been focuses of radical political thinking.) In 1872 Dr. J. H. Trumbull, an early specialist in Native American philology, suggested that the word might be derived from the Algonquin word caucauasu, which has the meaning of "one who advises". (Information from OED and [Webster's on-line dictionary].
