lexicographical excursus

[muckefuck]

bunny rabbit
kitty cat
puppy dog
*lamby sheep
?fry fish
?joey kangaroo
?cygnet swan

Comments

[windswept.livejournal.com]

lamby-pie

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

That's different. The young of a pie isn't called a "lamby". Maybe "tartlet pie"?

[windswept.livejournal.com]

I know, I'm sorry. I was just overcome with the urge to type lamby-pie.

[rollick.livejournal.com]

By the same token, an immature cat isn't a kitty, it's a kitten. An immature rabbit is not a bunny, it's a kit. The terms "bunny" and "kitty" are just as attributable to adult members of the species; it's just a cutesy diminutive.

If you're going to generalize from one example, then why is it that Joyce references a "moo-cow," but never mentions a "quack-duck" or a "trumpet-elephant"?

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

An immature rabbit is not a bunny, it's a kit.

Maybe to breeders. Most people I know say "baby bunny".

So what you are saying is that "lamby" is just as attributable to adult members of the pie spieces?

If you're going to generalize from one example, then why is it that Joyce references a "moo-cow," but never mentions a "quack-duck" or a "trumpet-elephant"?

That's an interesting question. I have seen "cluck-hen", but not often. And there is a website called "Meow Cat".

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

Brought to you by the same people who made up "pride of lions," "murder of crows," and "unkindness of ravens."

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

AKA The Damn Victorians, Who Are to Blame for Everything.

Everything?

EV. RY. THING!

[windswept.livejournal.com]

including "drumstick"

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Evidence? When do these collocations first come into use?

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

Your irritating insistence on evidence really puts a damper on my histrionics.

veliger-clams

[pacotelic.livejournal.com]

fauntly-victorians
notio-histrionix
mariju-history

play-breeder indeed

Re: veliger-clams

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

This thread is driving me to alcoho-drink.

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

'hot water heater' is fun too.

no, not this route

[windswept.livejournal.com]

because then I will be forced to start screaming shrilly about "shrip scampi"

Re: no, not this route

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Or the Iron Chef favourite, "homard lobster".

[welcomerain.livejournal.com]

http://rinkworks.com/words/collective.shtml

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Totally different thing.

[zompist.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone's mentioned cubby bear. (I don't know if this is general; it sounds fine to me because there's a North Side bar of that name.)