Secret Origins

[talktooloose]

I haven't told anyone the origin of my latest LJ name, "Tasting the Whole Worm."

It is a spoonerism, perhaps the original spoonerism, a term coined by Lewis Carroll of Alice in Wonderland fame. Mr. Spooner was a teacher of Carroll's acquaintance, and was given to transposing letters in the manner that now carries his name. He famously reprimanded a student:

"You have hissed all my mystery classes! You have tasted a whole worm!"

Spoonerisms are actually a family tradition. My paternal grandmother made grand terms and names. She spoke of Olympic "lift-weighters" and the composer "Korski Rimsikov." Snake has good ones, too, but I can't remember any off the top of my head. I will keep you advised.

Comments

[briseur.livejournal.com]

There is a town in southern VT called Bellows Falls. We prefer its spoonerism.

[lux-apollo.livejournal.com]

:-)