I wonder why it is not a derivative of peacock and also why it reminds me of some similar Russian terminology. Probably a borrowing from French in both cases 🤣
When I first read this post (because I’m yet not fully awake), I saw the word “pavonnaise,” and now I’m imagining a creamy spread that makes people who eat it feel superior.
I saw you ask Colin on Countdown how to pronounce the name of the Irish drum, the bodhrán. His reply was incorrect. It should be bow-rawn. (bow, as in take a bow, or bow of ship) The h silences the d. In old Irish, it was an accent over the letter - a dot.
Sounds like my ex-boyfriend! Fantastic word to describe his ridiculous vain #narcissism! Showing off for temporary surface-level admiration for those taken in by false superficial impressions, until the mask slips! @susiedent.com do you think this word was designed for 19th century #narcissists? 🤷🏻♂️
Yes, peacocks would, I surmise, have been known to Spaniards before turkeys. The "real" could be a later addition to make the distinction clearer once the meaning had transferred to our favourite American poultry.
IKR - it’s an interesting one linguistically as peacocks were poss first introduced into Europe by Alexander the Great - or at least in Athens c.450BZ (acc. to a cursory Google) and turkeys wouldn’t have been seen until the 15thC. Pavo was also the Latin word though which likely underpins it all
Past tense: I pavonised my way through the dance.
Future tense: I am going to pavonise in front of them.
Whatever tense: I was pavonising my way through the ceremony when suddenly I was pavonised by Paul who was going to pavonise June but instead hit me.
Thank you! This prompted me to look up the Spanish word for Peacock, as Pavo is Spanish for Turkey. Turns out Peacock in Spanish is Pavo Real: “Royal Turkey”
Thank you for looking it up. I was also wondering about that.
In Latin, peacock is pavo. Portuguese for peacock is pavão (turkey is peru).
Why did the word pavo shift to the turkey in Spanish but not Portuguese? (And we need to remember that the Spanish introduced turkeys to Europe in the 1500s.)
In today's beautiful synchronisities: This one came up in my feed right beneath @miloedwards.bsky.social & that has given me such a chuckle about how well the content of both fit together.
Comments
I can see that word getting a real rebirth over the next three years.
Ok this one seems rather verby, but still....
Not in the good way.
The bad way.
Donald Trump was once again seen to pavonise on television sets around the world, to much giggling and cursing.
? Howzat
Ps: please keep Jimmy Carr in check 😉🫡
A ‘pavo real’ is a peacock but its literal translation is ‘royal turkey’
Seems apt
👍🏼
I pravonise
You provonise
He provonises
We provonise
They provonise
Or is it irregular?
Future tense: I am going to pavonise in front of them.
Whatever tense: I was pavonising my way through the ceremony when suddenly I was pavonised by Paul who was going to pavonise June but instead hit me.
ELON MUSK isn't that old!
Derek Walcott
https://derrangedramblings.blogspot.com/2025/01/waste-man-dem-for-limited-time-only.html
The waddle developed over Christmas caused by being puffed up by sprouts and mince pies.
In Latin, peacock is pavo. Portuguese for peacock is pavão (turkey is peru).
Why did the word pavo shift to the turkey in Spanish but not Portuguese? (And we need to remember that the Spanish introduced turkeys to Europe in the 1500s.)
Pah-voo-niece or pay-vo-nice?
What's your view on the diminishing use of the -ly adverb? The English speaking world needs you!
Thanks,
J
https://bsky.app/profile/dbann.bsky.social/post/3lf7xdjqquz2k
We all do more's the pity.
Also, I got your book, "Winning Words," for the holidays. I couldn't be happier with it.
They want to be peafowl but only achieve the squawk.
se pavane. Fr
pavoneando-se. Port.
pavoneggiarsi. Ita.
Bloody EU. About time England had a language of its own, grump.
And narrowly avoided compounding the error with this. 😁
Oops! I nearly committed a fake etymology/faux ami by tentatively linking it to this word.
Paging @yvanspijk.bsky.social ! 😁
https://www.dwds.de/wb/Pfau
“Moves like Jagger”
🙂