Wordplay in HP

[Steve Vander Ark]

No: HPFGUIDX 18716

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., rcraigharman at h... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., dfrankis at d... wrote:
> > The one I like (and it hasn't quite crept on to the Strictly
> > British bit of the Lexicon yet) is "Tripe, Sybil?"  In Brit
> > English, tripe means nonsense as well as the wonderful gliding
> > food.  So McGonagall is commenting on Trelawney's previous remark,
> > as well a offering her food.
> 
> Tripe has the dual meaning in American English too, which is why
> it shouldn't be in the "Strictly British" part.
> 
> "tripe (trIp) n. 
> 
> 1. The light-colored, rubbery lining of the stomach of cattle or 
> other ruminants, used as food. 
> 2. Informal. Something of no value; rubbish."
> 
> American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.
> 


*sigh*

Well, I just added it to Strictly British. And I don't think I'll 
take it back off, since "tripe" was already on there, so it fits 
naturally. But I, solidly Midwestern American that I am, have never 
heard of the word "tripe" used that way. That dictionary might very 
well be including a meaning more commonly used in Britain. It's not a 
specifically American dictionary, despite the title.

Steve Vander Ark
The Harry Potter Lexicon
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon