Things that time forgot.

[ahinton]

According to the OED, it's an obsolete word for "flapper" - as in "bird", so it might just be a colloquialism for "bird shooting".

Indeed, although it's perhaps odd that the connotation of "flapper" underwent so fundamental a change in the 1920s!

[french frank]

It has been the source of much speculation as to what a Flacker might be.

Lots of refs to the potlid and print, but this was the only reference I could find

http://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/relish_pot/as337a010

It suggests that it was a snipe - I was going to say, perhaps, water fowl with guns and water dogs. Origin seems hard to find.

[ahinton]

Lots of refs to the potlid and print, but this was the only reference I could find

http://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/relish_pot/as337a010

It suggests that it was a snipe - I was going to say, perhaps, water fowl with guns and water dogs. Origin seems hard to find.

So such shooting would have required the services of a sniper, presumably (siad he, confusing the issue still further and indeed muddying the waters as portrayed)...

[vinteuil]

A friend has one of these:



It has been the source of much speculation as to what a Flacker might be.

... as ' to flacker' seems to mean 'to flutter, as of the wings of a bird' I wonder if 'flacker' as a noun might just be a colloquial or hunting jargon word for 'a bird', esp when fluttering up from the ground, as surprised by beaters?

EDIT - sorry, late to this party : ferns already bagged the game...

[ahinton]

... as ' to flacker' seems to mean 'to flutter, as of the wings of a bird' I wonder if 'flacker' as a noun might just be a colloquial or hunting jargon word for 'a bird', esp when fluttering up from the ground, as surprised by beaters?

who were giving it some fla(c)k, perhaps?...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

who were giving it some fla(c)k, perhaps?...

I think that's right - and your earlier "sniper" and "beating about the bush"; I'm sure many such expressions have their origin in these sort of "pursuits".

[vinteuil]

"flak", tho', is different - from German Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone), literally: aircraft defence gun.

[teamsaint]

"flak", tho', is different - from German Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone), literally: aircraft defence gun.

All you need to know here.

http://www.paulmeekins.co.uk/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=38387

[mahlerei]

In my first job I had to learn how to use a telex machine. Long messages were typed offline as it were and transferred to a ribbon of paper in the form of perforations. The tape was then torn pff the spool and fed back into the machine; once the connection was established you hit the appropriate key and the message was sent at a fair speed. Very noisy.

[Lat-Literal]

Child labour in Britain which was only outlawed in September 1972.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

"flak", tho', is different - from German Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone), literally: aircraft defence gun.

(ditto, ts)

[teamsaint]

In my first job I had to learn how to use a telex machine. Long messages were typed offline as it were and transferred to a ribbon of paper in the form of perforations. The tape was then torn pff the spool and fed back into the machine; once the connection was established you hit the appropriate key and the message was sent at a fair speed. Very noisy.

me too. I went on a telex course in 1984. they must have been close to obsolete even then. I have no idea what we used it for. In fact I don't think I ever did use it.

[teamsaint]

(ditto, ts)

It's not a hobby of mine, in case anybody is wondering.

[mahlerei]

me too. I went on a telex course in 1984. they must have been close to obsolete even then. I have no idea what we used it for. In fact I don't think I ever did use it.

yes, that was about the time I used it last. I guess the fax finally killed it off.

[Ferretfancy]

A sudden image which time forgot, an usherette moving slowly backwards down the cinema aisle with a tray of Kia Ora drinks and ice cream.