aeb@mcvax.UUCP (Andries Brouwer) (07/20/85)
In article <187@brueer.brueer.UUCP> michael@brueer.UUCP (Michael Fourman) writes: > "RANDY" is a genderless alternative current here > (but its not a common given name here - always makes me smile :-) to hear, > "Hi, I'm Randy".) > > I have two questions > > What is the etymology? > What is the distibution of this usage? My dictionary from 1958 says: RANDY - lecherous / boisterous, riotous (Sc.). That from 1811 says: RANDY. Obstreperous, unruly, rampant. [The previous entry in the latter is: RANDLE. A set of nonsensical verses, repeated in Ireland by schoolboys, and young people, who have been guilty of breaking wind backwards before any of their companions; if they neglect this apology, they are liable to certain kicks, pinches, and fillips, which are accompanied with divers admonitory couplets.] These words seem to be related to RANT and RANDOM. It is further possible that these words stem from RAND 'edge' (Du. & German). If so, then the original meaning has been reversed completely: - rest, quiet, peace ie *REM- 'to rest' Sanskrit: RAMATE 'rests, stands still, is liked, makes love'. Skt. & Avest.: RAMA(N) 'rest, peace, happyness, lust'. - rest, support, shield, brim Gothic: RIMIS 'rest'. Old High German: RANT 'boss of shield', RAMA 'support'. Old Eng.: RAND 'edge, margin, rim, boss of shield, shield'. Danish, German & Dutch: RAND 'edge', Eng. RIM, Du. RAAM 'frame'. (But also RAME 'skeleton' is attested - Mid. Eng. 1497.) Spanish: RANDA 'lace bordering / pickpocket'. - (over the edge, too much) quickly, violently, noisy Old French: A RANDON 'rapidly, suddenly, violently'. Middle Eng.: IN O RANDUN 'with a rush, headlong' (E.g. in "The land of Cokaygne": The monkes liztith nozt adun, Ac furre fleeth in o randun. ) Early modern Eng.: RANDOM 'impetuosity, force'. Eng. AT RANDOM. RANDY 'loud- or course-spoken', to RANT, RANDAN 'a drinking bout, spree'. The word STRAND comes from *S-RAND, and has the same origin as RAND. Some etymologists prefer to connect some of the words mentioned to the root in RANNEN/RENNEN/RINNEN/to RUN.