NAMES THAT MISLEAD.
The Providence Journal calls attention to some curiosities of misnomer. Black lead is not lead at all, but a compound of carbon and a small quantity of iron. Brazilian grass never grew in Brazil, and .is not grass; it is nothing j but strips of palm leaf. Burgundy pitch is not pitch, and does not come from Burgundy; the greater part of it is resin and palm oil. Catgut is made from the entrails of sheep. Cuttle-bone is not bone, but a kind of chalk once enclosed in the fossil remains of extinct specimens of cuttle-fish. Gorman silver was not invented in Germany, and does not contain a particle of silver. Cleopatra's Needle was not erected by the Egyptian Queen, nor in her honor. Potnpey's Pillar had no historical connection with Pompey in any way." Sealing wax does not contain a particle of wax, but is composed of Venice turpeitine, shellac, and cinnabar. The tuberose is no rose, but a species of polianthus. Turkish baths did not originate in Turkey, and are not baths, but heated chambers. Whalebone is not bone, and is said not to possess a single property of borte,
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT18850622.2.13
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2022, 22 June 1885, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
195NAMES THAT MISLEAD. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2022, 22 June 1885, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in