[EDNOTE. Let's make this the last post on balloons, since we have floated beyond discussion of VN. -- SES]
S
teve Arons writes:
> Alexey's swooney-balooney reminds me that the origins of the word balloon are not that well know.
OED:
balloon, n.1
[ad. It. ballone ‘great ball, footeball’ (Florio 1598), augmentative
of balla ball n.1 Cf. F. ballon (16th c.), which balloon subseq.
followed in its senses.]
†1.1 A large inflated ball of strong double leather, struck to and fro
by the arm defended by a bracer of wood. Obs.
1592 Sylvester tr. Du Bartas's Ship-Wracke of Jonas in Triumph of
Faith 19 One ship that skips from stars to ground, From waue to waue
(like windy Balloones bound).
Grand Robert:
1. ballon [balɔ̃] n. m.
ÉTYM. 1557; « bombe pour feu d'artifice », 1549; ital. ballone,
forme dial. de pallone, de palla « balle » (→ 1. Balle), et -one,
suff. augmentatif.
1 Vessie de caoutchouc gonflée d'air et recouverte d'une enveloppe
de cuir, de peau ou de caoutchouc épais, utilisée dans certains jeux
ou dans certains sports.
As for Wikipedia, the article on Marat formerly said that he was
murdered by Darth Sidious.
--
Susan Elizabeth Sweeney
Co-Editor, NABOKV-L