corkscrew

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Onoit - 10 Jan 2009 16:29 GMT

Has corkscrew ever been used as argot for a a kind of knife, or 'to
corkscrew' for to pierce with a knife, rapier, or blade? (Probably not,
since I can't find anything of the kind on Google.} I was wondering if it
might be a criminal argot?

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Nick - 10 Jan 2009 16:34 GMT

> Has corkscrew ever been used as argot for a a kind of knife, or 'to
> corkscrew' for to pierce with a knife, rapier, or blade? (Probably not,
> since I can't find anything of the kind on Google.} I was wondering if it
> might be a criminal argot?

Have you seen it anywhere - in which case, could you quote it for us
please, or are you wondering if it would work if you put it in the mouth
of a fictional criminal?

In the latter case, then I think it would be pretty obvious - "give us
yer wallet or I'll corkscrew yer".

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 10 Jan 2009 16:37 GMT

>> Has corkscrew ever been used as argot for a a kind of knife, or 'to
>> corkscrew' for to pierce with a knife, rapier, or blade? (Probably not,
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>In the latter case, then I think it would be pretty obvious - "give us
>yer wallet or I'll corkscrew yer".

I would understand that to be a threat to insert the knife and then twist it,

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Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Onoit - 10 Jan 2009 17:53 GMT

> Have you seen it anywhere - in which case, could you quote it for us
> please, or are you wondering if it would work if you put it in the mouth
> of a fictional criminal?

I haven't seen it anywhere that I can remember. I was wondering if when
Humpty Dumpty "took a corkscrew from the shelf" it was a knife, because he
was going after the "little fishes," who would not do what he wanted them to
do.

Although Humpty Dumpty had been presented a gift by the King and Queen,
I am not sure that they really knew whom they were dealing with.

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 10 Jan 2009 19:05 GMT

>> Have you seen it anywhere - in which case, could you quote it for us
>> please, or are you wondering if it would work if you put it in the mouth
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>was going after the "little fishes," who would not do what he wanted them to
>do.

I've just read that at:
http://www.literature.org/authors/carroll-lewis/through-the-looking-glass/chapte
r-06.html

I think it is just a corkscrew. Humpty Dumpty seems to have been intending to
use it to wake up the fishes by, perhaps, prodding them and stirring up the
water. A corkscrew has a point but it is not very sharp. He wanted to wake the
little fishes, not damage them.

> Although Humpty Dumpty had been presented a gift by the King and Queen,
>I am not sure that they really knew whom they were dealing with.

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Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Donna Richoux - 10 Jan 2009 19:27 GMT

> > Have you seen it anywhere - in which case, could you quote it for us
> > please, or are you wondering if it would work if you put it in the mouth
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Although Humpty Dumpty had been presented a gift by the King and Queen,
> I am not sure that they really knew whom they were dealing with.

So you are referring to "Through the Looking-Glass," Chapter 6, which
can be found here:
http://www.sabian.org/Alice/lgchap06.htm

It's a nonsense poem. I don't try to explain nonsense poems.

Nor does Martin Gardner have a single suggestion in his "Annotated
Alice."

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Best wishes -- Donna Richoux

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2009

corkscrew