Term Gingerly

[MrIxolite]

What is the origin of the word gingerly, as in 'he touched his bad tooth gingerly'? Has it a root in Ginger? (no pun intended)

[TommyC]

See http://www.wordreference.com/definition/gingerly.h
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[Quizmonster]

Its earliest uses in English in the 1500s were to the daintiness and gentility required in certain dance-steps. Naturally, it didn't take too long for it to be used to suggest mincingly/effeminately! Not to worry, though...that implication has now disappeared, so one may feel free to touch a bad tooth 'gingerly' whatever one's gender.

[MrIxolite]

lol

[maxi29]

Quizmonster, you're obviously not from London. 'Ginger' would most certainly used to be describe someone who minces effeminately, thanks to ****ney rhyming slang. Ginger is short for ginger beer, rhymes with queer.

[maxi29]

Hahahaha..I've seen it all now. Londoners can't be described as ****neys as it might be offensive. I think Answerbank ought to sort out itself out a bit, that really is pathetic.

[inferno]

****ney

[inferno]

Blimey - it asterisks it automatically!

[inferno]

********

[inferno]

The whole thing now - they could have left the second word in (off)

[MrIxolite]

****les are a type of shellfish.

[MrIxolite]

S****horpe is a town in Yorkshire

[MrIxolite]

Hmm, a little over sensitive I think.

[inferno]

I'm so sorry, I'm reverting to my childhood.

[MrIxolite]

And filling up my inbox with reply notifications. Please stop it. I have reported the over sensitive editor program to the site. Hopefully they will take note ;)

[inferno]

sorry