View Single Post
  #26  
Old November 27th, 2008, 10:49 PM posted to rec.travel.europe,uk.politics.misc,rec.travel.usa-canada,rec.travel.australia+nz,rec.sport.rugby.union
Ariadne
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 49
Default A-Z of English words with surprising origins

On 27 Nov, 22:34, "DVH" wrote:
"Ariadne" wrote in message
Which would come from the Latin "regula" and ultimately from rex?


Nice pages and more derivations:


http://www.doge.it/regata/regata10i.htm


The actual origin of the word "Regatta" has been lost. Some writers
believe is stems from the Latin word "auriga" (from which the term
"gara" - race - also derives) while others consider it a trasformation
of the word "remicata", which is in turn from "remus". The third and
most accepted theory is that in which the word "riga" (line) is seen
as "remus". The third and most accepted theory is that in which the
word "riga" (line) is seen as the origin, from the position of the
boats at the start of the race.


I feel better educated now.


I just feel deprived by not owning an OED.