Monty: Whaddya mean she ain't my wife? Mal: She ain't your wife... cause she's married to me.

'Trash'


All Ogle, No Cash -- It's Not Just Annoying, It's Un-American

Discussion of episodes currently airing in Un-American locations (anything that's aired in Australia is fair game), as well as anything else the Un-Americans feel like talking about or we feel like asking them. Please use the show discussion threads for any current-season discussion.

Add yourself to the Buffista map while you're here by updating your profile.


Am-Chau Yarkona - Dec 12, 2002 2:26:39 am PST #809 of 9843
I bop to Wittgenstein. -- Nutty

I don't wish to know that!


P.M. Marc - Dec 12, 2002 2:29:54 am PST #810 of 9843
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

Goolie covers.

If you are so inclined.


Angus G - Dec 12, 2002 6:26:10 am PST #811 of 9843
Roguish Laird

Er, no, in Australia a skivvy is a roll-necked tight-fitting warm cotton pullover, as worn by (a) the socially inept, and (b) The Wiggles. Min was not entertaining speculation on what covers The Wiggles' goolies. I just want to make that clear so her honour is intact!


Am-Chau Yarkona - Dec 12, 2002 6:32:56 am PST #812 of 9843
I bop to Wittgenstein. -- Nutty

in Australia a skivvy is a roll-necked tight-fitting warm cotton pullover, as worn by (a) the socially inept, and (b) The Wiggles

It's good to get these little langauge troubles cleared up.


DXMachina - Dec 12, 2002 6:55:19 am PST #813 of 9843
You always do this. We get tipsy, and you take advantage of my love of the scientific method.

It's good to get these little langauge troubles cleared up.

Actually, the US underwear version is always plural, i.e. skivvies, because it's a trademark, although it's passed into the language, like xerox and kleenex.


bon bon - Dec 12, 2002 7:06:41 am PST #814 of 9843
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.

Xerox would NOT be happy to hear you claiming they've been genericized.


Am-Chau Yarkona - Dec 12, 2002 7:11:21 am PST #815 of 9843
I bop to Wittgenstein. -- Nutty

like xerox and kleenex.

Now, they haven't been genericized in Britian (typing 'over here' doesn't actually help much, Am-Chau!) but other things have. Do you know what a hoover is?


billytea - Dec 12, 2002 7:27:36 am PST #816 of 9843
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

So I looked up 'skivvy' on M-W, to see which option they would list. Their choice? Neither:

Main Entry: skiv·vy
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: circa 1902
British : a female domestic servant


Am-Chau Yarkona - Dec 12, 2002 7:32:56 am PST #817 of 9843
I bop to Wittgenstein. -- Nutty

Well, billytea, my Concise Oxford agrees with you, and the others too:

skivvy n. 1 (colloq., derog.) Female domestic servant. 2. Thin-high necked long-sleeved garment (in pl., underwear of vest and underpants). [20th cent. origin unknown.]


Am-Chau Yarkona - Dec 12, 2002 7:40:06 am PST #818 of 9843
I bop to Wittgenstein. -- Nutty

but the darling Cassel Dictionary of Slang (Green), offers these options:

skivvies, pl. n. 1. men's underwear, esp. underpants 2. a vest, esp. in the forn of a skivvy shirt 3. a pair of light slippers [ety. unknown (3) ? link to skivvy, n, i.e. typical Japanese footwear]

skivvy, n. [late 19th cent.] a derog. term for a Japanese person [presumably var. on skibby, n., although citations put dates at variance]

skivvy n., [20th cent.] maid of all work [? slavey, see also ety. for skibby]

So there you have it. Well, more of it, anyway.