Monday, January 26, 2009

Wetwang to Penistone to Pratts Bottom

For the 14-year-old etymologist in all of us, a charming bit on con"genital"ly-humorous English towne names (Oh, to live in Spanker Lane).
“It’s pronounced ‘PENNIS-tun,’ ” Fiona Moran, manager of the Old Vicarage Hotel in Penistone, said over the telephone, rather sharply. When forced to spell her address for outsiders, she uses misdirection, separating the tricky section into two blameless parts: “p-e-n” — pause — “i-s-t-o-n-e.”
(Thanks Minky!)

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