The Meaning of the Term "Put Outer"

[lupinesque]

No: HPFGUIDX 36972

Cindy writes:

> > >And why does JKR, a 
> > master 
> > > of inventing clever names like veritaserum and pensieve, resort 
> to 
> > a 
> > > clunky name like Put-Outer?

I have always thought of "Put-Outer" as not the literal wizarding 
world term for Dumbledore's device, but just the ww-ignorant 
narrator's uncreative but descriptive term for what we're seeing.

It's like this:  say I'm watching a carpenter at work and describing 
what he's doing, but I don't know any of the terms for a carpenter's 
tools.  He takes out a level and I explain, "He took out a little 
device that looked like some kind of baby's toy, with little glass 
tubes filled with water and air" (this is akin to the PS/SS narrator 
saying "It seemed to be a silver cigarette lighter").  I go on to say 
what it was for:  that it showed him when the board was perfectly 
straight, etc. 

Then in the next sentence I might well say, "He put away the 
Make-Straighter."  It's not intended to be a true name; it's just 
shorthand.  Therefore JKR should not receive demerits for her lack of 
creativity.  Dumbledore probably has a very clever name for this 
little device, and we just aren't privy to it.

What do you think, sirs?

Amy Z

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 "Winky is having trouble adjusting, Harry 
 Potter," squeaked Dobby confidentially.
                 -HP and the Goblet of Fire
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