Canoeyawl
01-07-2009, 01:33 PM
span-new
PRONUNCIATION:
(span-noo, -nyoo)
MEANING:
adjective: Brand-new.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English spannewe, from Old Norse spannyr, from spann (chip of wood) + nyr (new). Ultimately from the Indo-European root newo- (new) that also gave us new, neo-, neon, novice, novel, novelty, innovate, and renovate.
The same term appears in the phrase spick-and-span-new which was later shortened into spick-and-span. A spick is a spike; a spick-and-span-new ship referred to a brand new ship, one that is made up of new nails and new wood.
From -
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg
PRONUNCIATION:
(span-noo, -nyoo)
MEANING:
adjective: Brand-new.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English spannewe, from Old Norse spannyr, from spann (chip of wood) + nyr (new). Ultimately from the Indo-European root newo- (new) that also gave us new, neo-, neon, novice, novel, novelty, innovate, and renovate.
The same term appears in the phrase spick-and-span-new which was later shortened into spick-and-span. A spick is a spike; a spick-and-span-new ship referred to a brand new ship, one that is made up of new nails and new wood.
From -
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg