Translations / Avoiding Spoilers

[Louisa Cudahy]

No: HPFGUIDX 61090

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "emmajess29"
<cassandre.lamaudite at l...> wrote:
> Last question : I didn't know that "muggle" was a dictionary word.
> What does it mean ?


>Dear EmmaJess,
>To the best of my knowledge the word "muggle" is not in the english
>dictionary. In some english speaking communities the term "mug" is
>used in a kind of derogatory fashion in addressing someone who is
>ungainly or moronic. It's generally only quoted in humorous context
>though it is more rarely used as a serious insult than as an
>endearment. I tell you this because "muggle" always conjured up an
>affinity with this term for me as I found it in the books context.

>from Valky

As far as I was aware, the word "muggle" was used in the 70s (mainly in the
UK and California - I believe it was coined in San Francisco) as a euphemism
for a cannabis smoker. With that meaning in my consciousness I found
Rowling's use of it to describe those completely oblivious to something
right under their noses very appropriate and quite funny! It also fits in
quite nicely with EmmaJess' knowledge of the word "mug" which may well have
been shortened from "muggle."

Since we have ceiling collapsing issues at the moment I can't get at my huge
old dictionary (or my other four Harry books - I wanted to reread before
Friday, but alas...) which I remember seeing it in. I will post the entry
whenever I unpack all the boxes if anyone is interested. The following link,
does however, list the word as slang for marijuana itself:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/ByAlpha.asp?strTerm=M

And to weigh in on the recent spoilers (the shop owner didn't know about the
embargo? Has he been living under a rock?) I'm very much with those who read
them and wished they hadn't. Be strong people! It's better that way...

Louisa
(Who is just delurking and popping in for her first moderated post, to try
and get it out of the way before the list closure and then the madness...Oh,
it'll be such fun!)