Spanking New

[jimi]

Wonder where this term comes from? Is anything to do with spankers (the sails)?

or just found this


Classic FM Breakfast
Word of the Day: Monday 28 July 2003
Brand spanking new
Kel Richards writes

“Brand spanking new” is actually two expressions put together. “Brand new” means absolutely new, as if just branded, like newly forged iron, fresh from the furnace. Shakespeare uses “fire-new” in the same sense. “Spanking” used as an adjective is said to be a colloquial word that has come from an English regional dialect. However, the Oxford English Dictionary adds “of doubtful origin”. The only hint is that it might be related to a Danish word meaning “to strut”. Originally “spanking” was used to mean “very fine, or large, or especially good in some respect; with an implication of showiness or smartness”. So something that is “spanking new” is something that is (in Aussie English) “as flash as a pox doctor’s clerk”. If it’s both very new and very smart or flash then it’s “brand spanking new”.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by jimi on 08/10/2004 11:52 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[boatmike]

Ye're a sad muppett Jimi. Have ye not read the post on forum addiction? De yer employers know ye spend all bloody day talking a load o nonsense t' a bunch o emotional cripples wi tenuous connections? Why don't ye get on wi yer work? An if ye want tae look at sites regardin spankin there are other ones tae go to that hae nowt tae do wi boats but ye'll go deef.....

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[ChrisE]

Oh the things I do to keep you amused on a dull Friday afternoon.

In sum, spank can mean brisk or vigorous and that's where the link between the sails and the 'spanking new' might be.


spank·er [ spángkər ] (plural spank·ers)

noun

type of sail: the fore-and-aft sail on the sternmost mast of a square-rigged ship

spanking

[Mid-17th century. Origin uncertain: perhaps formed from spank2.]

spank [ spangk ]

intransitive verb

move spiritedly: to move briskly, spiritedly, or smartly


[Early 19th century. Origin uncertain: probably a back-formation from spanking2.
SYLLABICATION: spank·ing
PRONUNCIATION: spngkng
ADJECTIVE: 1. Informal Exceptional of its kind; remarkable. 2. Swift and vigorous: a spanking pace. 3. Brisk and fresh: a spanking breeze.
ADVERB: Used as an intensive: a spanking clean shirt.
NOUN: A number of slaps on the buttocks delivered in rapid succession, as for punishment.
ETYMOLOGY: Perhaps of Scandinavian origin.
OTHER FORMS: spanking·ly —ADVERB



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[ChrisE]

erm, mike, please don't you start in this mindless dialect, you'll only encourage him and his kind.

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[boatmike]

Oh my God did I do it again? The addiction seems to be getting worse.... Terribly sorry. Trying to be sensible. Honest. But it's this Forum. It's getting too me. You see me auld dad... I mean my Father used to speak like that and I was trained in school to speak properly and not emulate him but no' an agin I kenna help it ye ken?

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[jhr]

Now I'm confused. I tried typing "spanking" into Google, but I couldn't find anything about sailing............/forums/images/icons/blush.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[claymore]

Nae worries laddie...nae worries.
Here's tae us
Whas like us?
Damn few
An they're a' deed

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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[claymore]

Oor Ship was weel rigged
An awa then we flew
An a brisk spanking breeze pairted her frae ma view
An noo that ah'm hame an am drinkin ma glass
In secret, Ah drink the health o' ma Indian lass

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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[boatmike]

If God hae gi'n a giftie tae us
Tae see oursel's as others see us........

Unfortunately though the good Mr Burns didn't have to live on the south coast.....

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[boatmike]

Is that why they call it an Indian takeaway then?

Why did I eat that Vindaloo?
I cannot breathe
and dare not Poo
There is nothing for me to do
But sit here hopeful in the loo....

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[janeK]

'Ye're a sad muppett Jimi.'

Leave Jimi alone why don't you... if it wasn't for some real 'treasures' ref postings it would be a very boring day

yes I'm a sad git that works from home and going into the forum is one hilarious diversion/way of breaking up the work/day and alternatively extremely informative at the same time

<hr width=100% size=1>If work was so good, the rich would have kept more of it for themselves.