- etymology - What caused bell peppers to be called capsicums in some . . .
1707 H Sloane Voy Islands I 241 Bell Pepper The fruit is large somewhat shaped like a bell ("pepper, n " OED Online Oxford University Press, June 2016 Web 24 August 2016 Sense 3 ) Capsicum, on the other hand, is first attested as a botanical term for the plant in 1664, and as a term for the plant's fruit in 1725 ("capsicum, n "
- idioms - For whom the bell tolls - origin of ask not instead of . . .
HAGSTRUM: I was rather amused to read that after Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls came out with its quotation from John Donne's Devotions people came to the libraries and wanted the complete works of John Donne Here was one book which influenced another much in the same manner as a movie will influence the sale of the book
- etymology - What is the origin of rings a bell? - English Language . . .
In a series of experiments, Pavlov then tried to figure out how these phenomena were linked For example, he struck a bell when the dogs were fed If the bell was sounded in close association with their meal, the dogs learnt to associate the sound of the bell with food After a while, at the mere sound of the bell, they responded by drooling
- orthography - Bell crank, bell-crank or bellcrank? - English Language . . .
The second form "bell-crank" tells me that we are talking about bell-shaped crank, or a specialty crank that is only useful for cranking bells, without saying anything of its shape The third form, " bellcrank " tells me that what we are talking about is not a crank , but something related to bells and cranks, or a slang term that is entirely
- colloquialisms - Words are not sparrows; once they have flown they . . .
The bell, once rung, cannot be unrung or You cannot unring the bell Google books traces "cannot be unrung" to 1924: what is learned or suspected outside of court may have some influence on the judicial decision It may be only a subtle or even subconscious influence, but a bell cannot be unrung Adverse claimants have at least some reason
- single word requests - Is there a term for the sound of a bicycle bell . . .
JINGLE BELL PUKY G22 9913-22 MM Another word as correctly suggested in the comment below (@PLL) and in the definition above is tinkle to give forth or make a succession of short, light, ringing sounds, as a small bell 63mm x 43mm x 54mm Black Bike Bicycle TINKLE BELL
- What does hells bells refer to? - English Language Usage Stack . . .
The Phrase Finder is a recommended reference << What's the origin of the phrase 'Hell's bells'? The exclamation 'Hell's bells' has been used in both the UK and the USA since at least the mid-19th century
- grammar - Why go off, as in alarm went off? - English Language . . .
It dates from medieval England when households revolved around a fire upon which a pot would be continuously simmering This was linked to some sort of bell which would chime continuously If the fire went off, the energy (heat) from the fire would stop the chiming thus causing the alarm Hence we use the phrase when the alarm goes off!
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