Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Home » Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Search
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
Spelling bee
Raffee
Iran
238 Posts
(Offline)
1
2012/07/19 - 5:04am
Print

I had just thought of posting when I saw one episode included something about it. What is the origin? Spelling BEE?!   Rafee

Guest
2
2012/07/19 - 5:55am
Print

I thought I knew this, at one time.   But OED says "Sense of 'meeting of neighbors to unite their labor for the benefit of one of their number', 1769, Amer.Eng., probably is from comparison to the social activity of the insect; this was extended to other senses (e.g. spelling bee, first attested 1809; also hanging bee 'a lynching').", and it doesn't sound familiar.

Guest
3
2012/07/19 - 8:33am
Print

I can recall my mother and my aunts getting together for what they called quilting bees, where they'd take scraps of old material and sew them into magnificent patchwork quilts. I think my sister still has one of those heirlooms. I too have never heard of a hanging bee.

Forum Timezone: UTC -7
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
A Conversation with Dr Astein Osei
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1268
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 108
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Menu

Recent posts