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Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I remember reading about the cofferdams, when first you mentioned the project.
An amazing feat of engineering!
I think "talcum" has to be correct, Rusty?
Just a somewhat inept clue?
I coped quite well with the clues today, though, on the whole!
I liked 8d and 9d, and 29a
I had to check out "quarrel" though.
I didn't know that it was an archer's arrow.
So a double definition there?

Hello, Elle!
You are correct.
It must be "talcum", but an awful clue, indeed.
I knew "quarrel", it has cropped up before. (Why "cropped"?)
Crops arise, I suppose?
Will see if Anne Bradford has it!
Yes, double definition, Elle.
So has "earplug", just a day or two ago!
But a good puzzle, I think?

Hi, Rusty!
I have looked up "cropped" as in "came up in conversation" in my Chambers...and surprisingly it does explain the derivation there!
There is quite a bit of bumf, but the relevant bit here is that, among other definitions, it gives "cropped" as " to yield a crop; come to the surface ........hence, to come as in conversation".
It would probably be better, though, for you to read all of it in context, to get the most sense out of it.
I might not be explaining it very well!
The rain has finally stopped, but it is feeling very chilly.
I think I might make a hot drink. to warm me up!

Hello, Elle!
No, no, 10/10 for your explanation.
Seems a bit obvious now.
The language is full of "cropped ups" and many, many, more words and phrases that we "rattle" off every day and never think of the origin.
Why "rattle"?
Isn't it a wonderful language!
Chambers is a great help for word-mining!
I've just invented word-mining, so don't go looking for it!

What's the "rattle" context, rusty? In Jane Austen, as "rattle" was a chatterbox (there's another word that seems to have gone out of use!)

"Rattle off" means to speak quickly about something.
Chambers has several meanings regarding using "rattle" in speech, including "scold".

Hi, Rusty!
Never-the -less, I did just have quick look for "word- mining".......
But no, you are quite right, you may lay claim to the word........it does not appear to be in the dictionary!
You have coined a new word!
I like it!
Chambers gives a "rattle", used as a noun, as a vivacious prattler.......
But stick "brain", "head", or "pate " on to "rattle", and one becomes a "shallow, voluble, volatile person"!
I rather think Jane Austen may have meant her heroines to be regarded in a kinder sense?
I have yet to watch tonight's "Eggheads"......

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I like "word-mining", an apt word!
Instead of "looking up Chambers" we can "go down the word-mines".
I have not read any of Jane Austen's books but some words may have changed in meaning since her day?

Hi, Rusty!
Speaking in the abstract, and not in particular connection with Jane Austen........
I sometimes think that ''progress'' in language - vocabulary and grammar - is not always a good thing?
Sometimes it can be disappointing to find a word has changed its meaning.....
and I am often irritated to find that "grammar", as I once knew it, seldom seems to be taught as such, any more.
I think this supposed "progress" is called "evolution"?
I know time cannot - and probably shouldn't ? - stand still, but is it permissible sometimes to have regrets for past standards and yardsticks?

Hi elle
I'm not so against language evolving, but what I can't stand is words that originally had different meanings merging - take "irritate" and "aggravate" for instance.


...and,of course, words with precise meanings being used incorrectly (such as "epicentre").

rusty
take two days off and read all of Jane Austen at once. You won't regret it!