tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post610142971567416445..comments2024-02-25T20:07:56.114-06:00Comments on Mr. Verb: A tiny example of language change?Mr. Verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04048931596146402872noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post-45691646978822450412007-12-27T17:08:00.000-06:002007-12-27T17:08:00.000-06:00I did not make this connection until I was 25 year...I did not make this connection until I was 25 years old and studying linguistics in grad school. I knew all about lice, though.<BR/><BR/>An interesting connection is the word "nitpicker", with "nit" being the little round egg of a louse typically found at the base of hair/beard strand. Since lice were pretty much universal and the removal of the nits almost a compulsive habit, it has taken on the meaning of "critic concerned with or finding fault with insignificant details".<BR/><BR/>Interesting that it was such a universal scourge <BR/>that attempts to eliminate its source, however ineffective, were considered absurd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post-58973529787620850452007-12-27T10:11:00.000-06:002007-12-27T10:11:00.000-06:00Just FYI I had originally discovered this talking ...Just FYI I had originally discovered this talking to a group of college students here at our own University of Wisconsin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com