[net.nlang] vaxen, oxen, and foxen

colonel@gloria.UUCP (Col. G. L. Sicherman) (06/13/85)

["In the service of Virman Vundabar we learn perfection!"]

> >Note also that to collectively refer to the many VAX computers out there
> >a lot of people use the coined term "VAXEN", probably a derivative of
> >"vixen" or something.  There is probably some language that has contributed
> >to English that uses a suffix "en" to denote a plural, and subconscious
> >memory supplies the usage.
> 
> VAXen is probably more akin to "oxen" then "vixen", as far as derivation.
> The "en" suffix is a German pluralization, which has leaked over into English
> in words such as "oxen".

The -en of vixen is the -in of modern German: a feminine suffix.

		"In St. Louie they ruin it,
		 But they think they're doin' it!"
-- 
Col. G. L. Sicherman
...{rocksvax|decvax}!sunybcs!colonel