tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post2338116839526654345..comments2024-02-19T07:51:46.118-05:00Comments on Throw Grammar from the Train: One misty, moisty mutantJanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03173219179480606941noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-89429414906700425042010-05-27T07:45:53.144-04:002010-05-27T07:45:53.144-04:00Musty is a smell; mildew is more physical - visibl...Musty is a smell; mildew is more physical - visible fungus, moist state, etc.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04807410189983092576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-13139721005848996572010-05-12T23:30:06.311-04:002010-05-12T23:30:06.311-04:00"Musty" may sound dusty, but it is etymo..."Musty" may sound dusty, but it is etymologically related to "moist". Then there's "fusty", which means much the same thing (same kind of smell) as "musty", and which turns out to come from a word meaning first "stave" and later the whole wine barrel. The other word "must" -- I mean the one related to wine-making -- has nothing to do with any of this.emptyhttp://voidplay.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-60963829214716717112010-05-12T14:48:14.323-04:002010-05-12T14:48:14.323-04:00For me, too, "musty" is dry and "mi...For me, too, "musty" is dry and "mildewy" is moist...The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-1452848324682045322010-05-11T21:08:39.913-04:002010-05-11T21:08:39.913-04:00Irrelevant etymological note: "mildew" u...Irrelevant etymological note: "mildew" used to mean "honeydew".emptyhttp://voidplay.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-32403134129825495382010-05-11T13:20:34.282-04:002010-05-11T13:20:34.282-04:00Hi fev,
No, my "Misty Moisty Morning" co...Hi fev,<br />No, my "Misty Moisty Morning" comes direct from Mother Goose, in a shorter form: <br /><br />One misty moisty morning<br />When cloudy was the weather<br />I chanced to meet an old man<br />Clothed all in leather <br /><br />He began to compliment<br />And I began to grin<br />Saying how d'ye do, etc. <br /><br />I like Steeleye Span's version, but they don't say "I chanced to meet an old man" but something slightly different. Without that "chanced" (which stuck in my infant ear) it doesn't seem quite authentic, even with all 10 (or whatever) verses.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01579983806826643000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-22402420435139661962010-05-10T22:26:16.634-04:002010-05-10T22:26:16.634-04:00I thought "musty" was the smell and &quo...I thought "musty" was the smell and "mildewy" was the state of being mildewed, complete with black spores and musty smell.Galadrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03383321455657803304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-63059194825697428972010-05-10T20:11:16.572-04:002010-05-10T20:11:16.572-04:00Is that another closet Steeleye Span fan giving th...Is that another closet Steeleye Span fan giving the secret signal in your hed there?fevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16044273434866184659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-43161307245892678512010-05-10T19:17:38.949-04:002010-05-10T19:17:38.949-04:00I guess I've always used "mildewy" a...I guess I've always used "mildewy" about damp things and "musty" about dry things. Mildewy things are in the basement or the bathroom. Musty things are in the attic or the garage. I think it's because of the "dew" in the one, and the rhyme with "dusty" in the other.Charles Matthewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10975368525486961216noreply@blogger.com