It has been a rather dull week, but that is a blessing. This week I got some things done around the house, started a new painting. and watched some TV premiers. My favorite "NCIS" started up again along with "Person of Interest." Those may be the only two shows I watch this fall. I tried some of the new stuff, but most of it was just stew-pid (as my mother would say). Last night we watched "S.H.I.E.L.D" and "The Crazy Ones" with Robbin Williams. SHEILD was silly. Now Robin Williams is funny, but the funniest part of the show was the out-takes at the end. The show itself was not funny enough to watch until the end. Although that James Wolk was pretty darn cute. But no.
Yesterday, I spent a large part of the day on the phone. First with my friend Anny - her daughter is getting married next month. Anny is planning a big wedding with a big reception/dance. It should be a blast. Then I talked with the Junk Diva for a while - life is never dull at her house. Normally, I am not a big phone talker, but thank goodness for phones and cheaper phone plans. I can catch up with old friends and not feel bad later. Well, I do feel a bit bad for spending so much time on the phone.
The Tutoree will be here in a minute, and I need to bone up on my Chaucer. Where did the term "bone up" come from and why do I say it?
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We live to serve...
Meaning
To study hard, usually in preparation for a test.
Origin
There are two chief theories as to the origin of this phrase. One is that it derives from the practise of using bones to polish leather. So, to 'bone up' on a subject was to polish or refine one's knowledge. The second theory relates to the Victorian bookseller Henry George Bohn (1796-1884). He produced a large catalogue of books, including many study texts.
Early citations of the phrase in print, of which there are very few, don't support either idea. Bone was used as a verb meaning 'to study' from the early 19th century onward. The first known citation that explicitly use 'bone up' is in Tenting on Plains by Elizabeth Custer (wife of General George Custer), 1887:
"I have known the General to 'bone-up', as his West Point phrase expressed it, on the smallest details of some question at issue."
The Bohn story has the feel of something retro-fitted to the facts. If it really were true we might expect to find some 19th century reference that linked Bohn name with the phrase, or some example of 'Bohn up' in print. Nevertheless, the term must have come from somewhere, so the polishing with bone seems the most probable. Without further evidence the origin remains uncertain.
That's what my friend Google sez. In part. ;-)
You da man!
Your blog is so educational, thanks, Buck! It is good to have a calm week sometimes. Hope you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend!
Calm week - busy weekend.
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