Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2014 August 25

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August 25

Big what?

In a British TV drama set in the North of England, one of the characters sometimes calls other people what sounds like "You big yoo-niss", as a kind of insult. What is that word? I wondered whether it could be "Eunice", a girl's name, a bit like "You big Jessie", but I can find zero relevant Google hits for the expression spelled that way. Any ideas? 86.151.119.38 (talk) 02:57, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

I've heard something like that before, at least twice. Can't remember where (though it was YouTube), so can't say North or South, but definitely English. If we're thinking of the same thing, it sounded like an X at the end, so I thought it might be "lummox", but on replay, the L is either very silent or doesn't exist. I'm sure you found "Dancing With Big Eunice" in your search. I'd agree it's probably not relevant (though I don't know who/what that Big Eunice is). InedibleHulk (talk) 03:12, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

The word I'm hearing is definitely not "lummox", at least not any way I've ever heard that pronounced. For one thing, the vowel sound in the first syllable is "oo", not a short "u". 86.151.119.38 (talk) 03:43, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Yeah, mine had an "oo", too. "(y/h)oo-mix/z", I suppose. It wasn't like the lummox I know, but that guess was good enough for me. Not good enough for someone who really wants to know, though, I know. Just maybe a possible hint. I'd forgotten it was ever a problem for me, till you brought it up. I hope we both get a firm answer. InedibleHulk (talk) 04:08, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Could you tell us the name of the series? Maybe that would help with searching. Dismas|^(talk) 04:16, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

If someone is physically much bigger than average (someone like Giant Haystacks perhaps), he could be called a "big unit". --TammyMoet (talk) 09:04, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Or a Big Daddy or a King Kong Kirk. InedibleHulk (talk) 01:47, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

As it happens, the character towards whom this is often directed is actually quite small. Also, my expression is only used as an insult. In my experience, "big unit" is not normally an insult. 86.128.6.48 (talk) 12:50, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Is there a BrEng dialect in which eunuch is rendered "eunuchs" or with the -ch elongated into more of a hiss? Or a character quirk which does so? That would fit the insult/ribbing bit better than most any other English word with a similar pronunciation. ☯.ZenSwashbuckler.☠ 16:02, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Thanks for the continuing suggestions. I am pretty sure it cannot be "eunuch(s)". It is a traditional family show with no bad or risqué language, and I am almost certain they would not mention eunuchs in it. 86.128.5.193 (talk) 17:17, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

As a wild shot, there's a British insult "big girl's blouse", meaning something like a wimp. Maybe see Big Girl's Blouse. (By the way, the outstanding baseball pitcher Randy Johnson was known as "the Big Unit".) —JerryFriedman (Talk) 17:34, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

I support your idea of Eunice. Have you ever heard "Bertha" or "Hilda" used in a disparaging way? I have, and can imagine "Eunice" might have connotations of "old lady" in some places... Can you find a link to the show, or at least tell us the name? A character's catch phrase may not be especially common outside the show. For instance, 'eat my shorts' didn't have much currency before Bart Simpson started using it. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:42, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Oh sorry, it was asked above, but then I forgot to give details of the show. It is The Royal, and the character is Ken Hopkirk, played by Michael Starke. Actually, I'm thinking now that it may actually be "You great yoo-niss", not "big", though they seem more or less interchangeable. 86.169.188.38 (talk) 19:08, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

"Eunice" is a recognised term, at least according to Urban Dictionary's definition, which inhabits the Parnassus of lexicographic excellence: Eunice: a name of a fine ass chick ever who get holla by 5 guys a day. It's not immediately clear how this appellation would apply in different contexts. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:19, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Urban dictionary is like Wikipedia in that way. When it is good, it is pretty useful. When it is bad, it's hella bad. --Jayron32 20:22, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Yeah...useful. InedibleHulk (talk) 01:51, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

• "Your Big You-ness" as in "Your Royal Highness" See mondegreen.

quasi-demiurgic

Can someone explain to me what the meaning of the words "quasi-demiurgic"? --84.108.204.8 (talk) 06:58, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

See Demiurge for the underlying concept. In what sense something could be "quasi" comparable to a Demiurge is probably something that could be explained only based on the specific context in which it is being used. Fut.Perf. ☼ 07:11, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

And here's the definition of "quasi-", if you need it. Something like a demiurge, but not quite. InedibleHulk (talk) 07:30, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Yeah! --Demiurge1000 (talk) 00:54, 29 August 2014 (UTC)

Sequence of multiple adjectives in English

Why does there seem to be something wrong with "the wooden heavy blue big square box" but "the small red dotted vinyl bouncy ball" is ok? Is there a definite rule about the order of adjectives or is it simply a matter of what "feels" right? Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 08:09, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

You may want to look at this previous ref-desk thread, as well as Adjective#Adjective order. The PDF I linked at the very bottom of the ref-desk thread may also be of interest. Deor (talk) 08:34, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Thanks, that PDF is just the ticket! I came here because the adjective article states the order as a "just so" without even attempting to explain why. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 09:16, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

What are gunsails?

In The Black Swan (film), an order is made to raise the gunsails. I know what stunsails are; are these two one and the same? If not, what is a gunsail? After the order is made, and presumably carried out, if my memory serves me, they cut to the model ships, which of course won't look any different from the previous shots of the ships. But I did look to see if there was any difference, just in case; and nothing. – Kerαunoςcopia^◁_galaxies 19:22, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Are you sure it wasn't Gunwales (pronounced "gunnles")? --Jayron32 19:31, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Is it possible to "raise" the gunwales? 86.169.188.38 (talk) 20:04, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

How much lumber and nails do you have? --Jayron32 20:19, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Shakelton's rescue Voyage of the James Caird may be the most famous incident of raised gunwales. 75.41.109.190 (talk) 00:39, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

The subtitles said "gunsails" and the line was definitely "guns'ls". I'm beginning to wonder if they weren't making lingo up. The idioms and dialogue in the movie were fun to listen to, but perhaps there is no such thing as gunsails, then? – Kerαunoςcopia^◁_galaxies 20:58, 27 August 2014 (UTC)

French doctor needed on the Chateau de la Croë

I was about to just pass this by, and then I thought of you fine people. I ran across a sentence in the above article, and my rudimentary French is well, rudimentary for reading the sources, can you help? The sentence is:

"Subsequent to its restoration the chateau had been damaged and squatted with only the structural work remaining."

Thanks - Alanscottwalker (talk) 21:02, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

My French is also rudimentary, but the sentence seems to be a translation of this French quote:

" « Lorsque nous découvrons cette maison, fin 2001, tout est brûlé, arraché, squatté. Il ne reste que le gros oeuvre. L'idée est alors de remettre la demeure au goût du jour pour nos jeunes clients tout en respectant l'architecture d'origine. »

"When we discovered this house at the end of 2001, everything was burned, torn apart, squatted on. Only the structure remained. The idea, therefore, was to restore the place to the tastes of our young clients while respecting the original architecture." --Bowlhover (talk) 21:14, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

"squatté" would be "occupied by squatters". --Xuxl (talk) 09:12, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

Thanks, with the help of you both, I have copy edited the article but if anyone has anything to add here or there feel free. Alanscottwalker (talk) 10:48, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

Word definition

In your article for Kathryn Stockett, the first section is called "Petrafa"... I have tried to find the definition of that word to no avail. What does it mean? 184.100.199.165 (talk) 21:57, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

This was vandalism to the article, which has been reverted. Thanks for noticing it. Tevildo (talk) 22:00, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Not even in the Urban Dictionary. InedibleHulk (talk) 01:57, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

I was too Petrafaed to look there. Clarityfiend (talk) 06:26, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

Thank you, one and all....... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.100.199.165 (talk) 03:37, 30 August 2014 (UTC)