Stupid Question?

[Aja]

I have been asked by a 'non-saily' colleague what 'buoy' means and why it is spelt that way - had to admit I didn't have a clue.

Did a search but didn't turn anything up.

Anyone know the meaning/reason?

Thanks

Donald



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[jimi]

Donald I'm sure its so your forced to attend the optician and say "We'll I'm having difficulty picking up buoys at night, I wonder if you could help me?"

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[Twister_Ken]

Howzabout buoy as in buoyancy/buoyant - something wot floats.

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[Aja]

Thought that was a tad too obvious!

Donald

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[jimi]

Hoots mon dinnae be daft, they're named after buoys no the ither way aroon!

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[Peppermint]

I think its a Dutch derivative.

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[Ohdrat]

According to the Oxford Dic it's probably from the old french boie or middle dutch boeye or even Latin boia plural boiae or even greek boeiai !!!

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[tome]

No idea, and why do our transatlantic cousins refer to them as booees?

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[claymore]

For the same reason you say potato and they say potarto
(wish I'd not tried that really!!)

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Ohdrat]

'cus in the US they have intelligent booees that jump out at you, hence boo, the pl of which is booooees (as per the GW Dickshonary)

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[davidhand]

SWMBO says "too-mate-o" I've been trying to correct her for years to no avail. I have managed to teach her to make a good cup of tea though.


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[Rabbie]

I have no ideas either, its a daft word and I wish we could change it as I always get the 'uo' the other way round!.
Rab.

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Now THATS a Claymore!.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Or the Spanish Boyar, to float

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[Ohdrat]

Re: boyar

Which will be a latin derivtive?.. unless ofcourse the Barbs had something to say .. perhaps it's Berber for crusaders head bobbing in the waves..

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[jac]

Re: boyar

Now i always thought that they were buoys because all ships are female and like to be attached to boys.

Mind you spelling was never a strong point of mine.

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[davidhand]

Yes I have the problem with "goal" and "gaol".


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[extravert]

Webster's gives this...

Etymology: Middle English boye, probably from Middle Dutch boeye; akin to Old High German bouhhan sign

<hr width=100% size=1>Adventures of the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.xrayted.fsnet.co.uk>Teddy Bear Boat</A>

 

[jamesjermain]

Another example of where, far from American being a corruption of English, it is actualy the older, purer form.

Buoy being a corruption of Dutch Booie it was pronounced booey in England until the upper crust took to sailing and got their plummy vowels to work

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[jleaworthy]

It's still pronounced booey on the northwest coat of Scotland - well known for the best spoken english in the UK!

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[jwatson]

In Scotland, it refers to a Celtic footballer.....

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