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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.

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Zax
deaconB
744 Posts
(Offline)
1
2013/11/18 - 8:24pm

Dad had a zax among his tools, and in the 1960s, I asked him if it was related to an adze.   He explained the tool to me, but didn't tell me what it was called.

A zax is a slate-working tool. Se lasts morlate was sold as rectangles.   The roofer needed to punch (usually two) holes to nail the shingle to the roof. The lower corners of the lower end were trimmed by cutting off a triangle. Odd size and shapes of shingles also had to be manufactured to suit the .roof.

Our farmhouse, built in 1923, had a slate! roof.   Properly maintained, it lasts a century, but by the 1960s, it was difficult to find materials and labor, so we replaced it with asphalt. A poorly-maintained roof is dangerous when it's windy.

 

Guest
2
2013/11/20 - 12:21am

deaconB said
Se lasts morlate

  ???

I'll remember zax at our next Quiddler marathon. Thanks.

Guest
3
2013/11/20 - 10:57am

Likewise, thanks for the great new word Deacon. That a 19-pointer in Scrabble even before any bonuses!

Yeah, that "Se last morlate" stumped me too. Tried for a few minutes out figure out if that was just a typo degeneration of "slate," which fits the context, but the usual permutations of adjacent keys gave me nothing. Guess we'll have to wait for Deacon to explain this one.

 

Guest
4
2013/11/20 - 6:44pm

Kitten on the keys?

deaconB
744 Posts
(Offline)
5
2013/11/21 - 4:58pm

tromboniator said
Kitten on the keys?

Sadly, no. Indeed, "e lasts mor" is slate's middle name. I think that was part of "slate lasts more".

The touch pad on my laptop is too sensitive, and sometimes the cursor jumps around even though I've not touched it. Often I catch these, but my cataracts make it difficult. Believe me, while I am lazy, I'm even more arrogant and proud, so I'd never willingly let one of these slip past   me.

 

Guest
6
2013/11/24 - 8:38am

A Zax by any other name works as well. A mountaineering piton hammer is just an updated and, now, ergonomic zax. Early climbers probably used zaxes before there was an R.E.I. Rock Hammers are ubiquitous at Home Depot and I will call them zaxes from now on. They're great for punching drywall, demolition and, of course, shaping rock.

Guest
7
2013/11/24 - 11:26pm

deaconB said

Believe me, while I am lazy, I'm even more arrogant and proud, so I'd never willingly let one of these slip past   me.  

No cataracts here, but also no lack of laziness, arrogance, and pride. As a kindred spirit, permit me to say that I would be honored to put the motto "Se lasts morlate" on my escutcheon, and let the peasants puzzle it out.

deaconB
744 Posts
(Offline)
8
2013/11/25 - 3:03am

tromboniator said

deaconB said

Believe me, while I am lazy, I'm even more arrogant and proud, so I'd never willingly let one of these slip past   me.  

No cataracts here, but also no lack of laziness, arrogance, and pride. As a kindred spirit, permit me to say that I would be honored to put the motto "Se lasts morlate" on my escutcheon, and let the peasants puzzle it out.

I am of the opinion that copyright should only exist where there is intent to create an attributable work, so it with regret that I grant you  carte blanche to have at it..

 

I note that a politician is in trouble for plagiarizing Wikipedia, which is expressly copy-lefted.   When I find myself opposing those who attack politicians, I think twice and even three times, but yeah, those attacks are a bum rap.   I wish they'd really

kneecap him, for some valid gripe instead.

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