Really TRUE odd factoids

[simongt]

The reason why Privates in the Royal Engineers are termed 'sappers' is after the archaic French word 'sapo' meaning spade.
And that's because during sieges in years gone by, the principal tool of a pioneer, as they use to be called, was - a spade - !

 

[classic33]

Jerry Cans were designed with their unique handles so that 1 person could carry two full cans, or four empty cans. and two people could carry 3 cans between them.
If they were dropped in water there is an in-built air pocket which would aid in their floatation. They were also designed so that they could be stacked efficiently and poured smoothly without glugging.

 

[Beebo]

Jerry Cans were designed with their unique handles so that 1 person could carry two full cans, or four empty cans. and two people could carry 3 cans between them.
If they were dropped in water there is an in-built air pocket which would aid in their floatation. They were also designed so that they could be stacked efficiently and poured smoothly without glugging.

Add it to the list of good things that the Nazi’s did.

 

[Alex321]

The reason why Privates in the Royal Engineers are termed 'sappers' is after the archaic French word 'sapo' meaning spade.
And that's because during sieges in years gone by, the principal tool of a pioneer, as they use to be called, was - a spade - !

Not quite True. (But close)

It does come from the French, but the word Sapeur which means to dig, or undermine. Which was the original work of the sappers - to undermine the walls of fortifications.

There was an archaic French word for an entrenching tool type of spade which was sappe, and which sapeur was probably derived from. The trench they dug was also called a sappe.

The main modern French word for spade is la bêche, or it can be la Pelle or le Pique depending on the type of spade.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

The French just can't call a spade a spade can they?

 

[Punkawallah]

Add it to the list of good things that the Nazi’s did.

Well. A Nazi did kill Hitler, so there’s that.

 

[Drago]

Add it to the list of good things that the Nazi’s did.

Well, er, there's the autobahns. And they made wonderful advances in the art of shouting.

 

[Chris S]

Well. A Nazi did kill Hitler, so there’s that.

I suppose that's true as Hitler killed himself.

 

[simongt]

According to the OED, the simple word 'set' is probably the polysemic champion of English as it has 58 uses as a noun, 126 as a verb and 10 as a participial adjective.
Unless someone knows better - !

 

[Tenkaykev]

According to the OED, the simple word 'set' is probably the polysemic champion of English as it has 58 uses as a noun, 126 as a verb and 10 as a participial adjective.
Unless someone knows better - !

TIL a new word " polysemic " 👍

 

[raleighnut]

According to the OED, the simple word 'set' is probably the polysemic champion of English as it has 58 uses as a noun, 126 as a verb and 10 as a participial adjective.
Unless someone knows better - !

Nah

 

[classic33]

It's a hundred and one years today since the first powered, controlled, heavier than air flight was made.
Orville Wright the controls for 12 second flight at Kill Devils Hill, North Carolina.

 

[Punkawallah]

It's a hundred and one years today since the first powered, controlled, heavier than air flight was made.
Orville Wright the controls for 12 second flight at Kill Devils Hill, North Carolina.

And some 73 years between that flight and the Space Shuttle. Busy little bees, aren’t we?

 

[Andy in Germany]

And some 73 years between that flight and the Space Shuttle. Busy little bees, aren’t we?

And only 55 years after that, SpaceX has managed to fire a banana into the Indian Ocean. There's progress...

 

[DaveReading]

It's a hundred and one years today since the first powered, controlled, heavier than air flight was made.
Orville Wright the controls for 12 second flight at Kill Devils Hill, North Carolina.

Wasn't it 1903 ?