Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Do you not believe the people on this site are capable of answering your questions?

what's the harm in asking as many people as possible? It's not a competition...

I sincerely do not understand your protest,Terry: sometimes a question remains unanswered for a relatively long period on either of these forums. That has nothing whatever to do with lack of confidence in the participants. Maybe I'm a little impatient sometimes,that's true; but in this case I really wondered whether anyone could give me the full explanation about the change in meaning, and indeed there has been no such reply as yet --- probably not surprising,as not everyone is so fascinated by etymology as me! Hope you now follow a little better --- and no hard feelings, I hope!

Lots of people post questions on both sites. It's no big deal.

Re capon- don't know if it helps, greedykite, but found reference to Capon - Middle English capoun, from Old English capūn and from Old French capon, both from Latin cāpō, cāpōn.
So perhaps the double meaning existed for both?

Thank you,AB: let's keep on the trail! One theory might be that the letter-writing lover should have no chance,and is therefore castrated --- but that's only guessing!

Good evening all
Capon and poulet (both French words used for "love letter".) originated from the custom of folding love letters in such a way as to resemble a chicken (with two points showing the wings)In Shakespeare's Henry IV , the King, when discussing his forthcoming marriage says that one particular suitor "preferred her poulet on paper more than in a fricasee", Thackeray also uses capon as love letter in Vanity Fair. Enjoy your chicken dinners all !

That's fantastic,jazzgirl!I wouldn't have known how to discover that! Just goes to show what an excellent "Brains Trust" this forum is!

The subject continues to fascinate me! Jazzgirl,apparently there was also the habit in France of sending love-letters concealed in chickens to the loved one! I have just read a long corresponence in French on the matter,largely scurrilous of course,which I found through further googling!So watch out next time you're given some kind of fowl:perhaps more worth searching through before eating than the old sixpence in the mince tart!OK, I'll shut up now....but thank you again for your assistance. gk

Greedy Kite, Bonsoir mon ami.
Well, the intrigue grows. So I am now most anxious to meet a gentleman presenting me with a chicken. There is one problem, however - if the chicen is uncooked, the letter would be a little malodourous; if the chicken had been in the cassoulet, the note would be totally illegible. Mon Dieu. Quelle probleme. Will I sleep tonight worrying over such!
I am retiring for the night now, but who knows what may arrive at my door demain.
Sigh.....