Author Topic: Seal Seal Seal (Read 4175 times)

Doorknob · « **on:** September 30, 2004, 01:59:31 PM »

How in the world, did something like a wax stamping for security process done by landowners, end up with the same name as the aformentioned furry aquatic mammal also known as a seal?

Jonathon · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2004, 02:26:54 PM »

You could try looking it up and checking the notes on the etymology.

Doorknob · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2004, 02:34:15 PM »

They are both from Middle English, one via Old English and the other via Latin and Old French, so how did they end up sounding the same today?

Jonathon · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2004, 02:42:27 PM »

The Old English diphthong eo smoothed to e, and the h dropped from pronunciation. The g probably turned into a y in Old French and then disappeared entirely, which probably changed the vowel in the process.

Doorknob · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2004, 02:58:07 PM »

See I knew you'd know the answer!

Papa Moose · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2004, 04:18:11 PM »

Seals are furry? I thought otters were the furry ones....

saxon75 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2004, 04:37:48 PM »

True seals do have visible hair and their flippers are typically furred, but they aren't exactly "furry." There are animals known as "fur seals" but they are more closely related to sea lions (Family Otariidae) than true seals (Family Phocidae). And, yes, otters are very furry. They can have up to one million hairs per square inch of their coat.

Doorknob · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2004, 06:16:59 PM »

My company manufactures seals for automobiles among other things.

Our engineering web page's slogan is "John Crane Engineering- Where seals are not just furry aquatic mammals" It is so bad I cringe every time I read it, but that's where that bit came from. I am aware that a seal is not exactly the furriest creature in the world.

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2004, 06:38:41 PM »

Which begs the next question: what is the furriest creature in the world?

The otter sounds like it's right up there.

And doorknob - who are you?

Doorknob · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2004, 08:02:12 PM »

I am that I am

Doorknob · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2004, 08:03:12 PM »

I think a chinchilla may win on the furry bit. It has 40 hairs per follicle which I think is the highest in the animal kingdom.

Brinestone · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2004, 08:30:28 PM »

Nah, the chinchilla doesn't hold a candle to this guy.

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2004, 08:54:02 PM »

There was a guy at our school when I was a freshman who would shave "MSU" into his back hair. It really bothered me when I realized that there was no way he could have done it himself.

sarcasticmuppet · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2004, 08:56:27 PM »

That definetely rates a 8.5 on my Squick-O-meter. o_O

saxon75 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2004, 10:57:30 PM »

Doorknob has got to be Banna. I don't get the new name, though.

pooka · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2004, 05:56:08 AM »

Banna? I thought it was the LORD. Though I didn't understand why He would need to ask us an etymology question.

saxon75 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2004, 08:31:29 AM »

According to the National Parks Conservation Association, the sea otter has the thickest fur in the animal kingdom. (Kids' Planet and the Monterey Bay Aquarium agree.) However, I wasn't able to find consistent numbers for the actual density of hair. The Canadian Encyclopedia says 18 hairs per follicle, while Otterjoy.com says 100.

I had similar troubles finding out about chinchilla fur. AJ's (if Doorknob is indeed AJ) number of 40 hairs per follicle was around the low end, while Pitter Patter Chinchillas claims they can have up to 120 hairs per follicle.

Sheila · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2004, 08:32:01 AM »

Alas, the picture appropriate for this thread is inappropriate for this forum!