Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site iddic.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!orca!iddic!dorettas From: dorettas@iddic.UUCP (Doretta Schrock) Newsgroups: net.jokes Subject: Re: versatile word (FYI)...no joke here... Message-ID: <2212@iddic.UUCP> Date: Tue, 1-Oct-85 11:44:30 EDT Article-I.D.: iddic.2212 Posted: Tue Oct 1 11:44:30 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Oct-85 07:03:55 EDT Distribution: net Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 12 > ...from the German 'fricken,'... according to OMNI magazine a couple of years ago, this most ubiquitous word is *not* an acronym for *anything*. They gave a list of 10 or so words that were believed by many to be old acronyms grown into words, but for which this was not true. They included "blimp" (it is *not* from 'Balloon, type LIMP'), "posh" (not 'Port-Out-Starboard-Home' as believed), and even SOS, which is nothing more that an easy to send, easy to recognize set of letters in Morse code. I'll find out which OMNI it was if it is a burning issue with anyone; I remember being surprised myself... Mike Sellers Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com