OT: Canadian French again

That would be a knitted cap. I think all Canadians know that one, but there are relatively few Americans who do...

From Wierd Canadian Words by Edrick Thay (ISBN 1-894864-32-8 if anyone cares): "Tuque As Canadian as maple syrup and Canada Day, this knitted, sock-like cap is said to have been the invention of cold European sailors, who created it to keep their heads warm on long ocean voyages. A little controversy surrounds the origins of this word. Some believe that tuque is a variant of the Quebec French word toque, which is supposedly derived from the French verb toquer, meaning "to knock" (the original tuque had a long, drooping end that tended to knock its wearer on the back of the neck). Other sources suggest the word is based on the word tukka, a pre-Latin work meaning "gourd or hill," presumably because of the tuque's conical shape. Still others claim the word is a shortened, anglicized version of the Chinook Jargon word latuk, which means "woollen cap." However you wear it, the tuque is a practical, if not always aesthetically pleasing, winter garment that no Canadian closet should be without."

Addie

It must help me living in a highly French Canadian area.

But these may help in the future

Cheryl

And just what sort of hat is a tuque?

Are you sure you didn`t mean a "Toque", Tegan? If it IS a toque it`s one of those brimless, close fitting yet turban like hats popular in Edwardian times, mostly - Old Queen Mary used to wear a lot of them (not all at once, though!)

Pat P

>

Looks like it can be spelled either way, Pat. I think I've finally figured out that it's what we call either a skullcap or a night watchman's cap.

Thanks for all those links, Cheryl! They'll come in very handy, I'm sure.

Tegan (who's even working on a stitching project by a Canadian designer at the moment! How fitting is that? LOL)

"Tegan" ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

That doesn't sound right - it is simply a knitted ski cap, the sort you see with a bobble on top. They can be more elaborate but generally are not. Just very nice in frigid weather as if your ears start to freeze you can pull the turn up down further to cover them.

"Tegan" " I apologize in advance if

I think you have a string of words compress into one--really high-powered cursing--hostie, colis, tabernac--the sacred host, the sacred chalice and the tabernacle, all church furnishings, which are popular old-school things to swear by. Dawne

"Tegan" wrote

I think we're going to have to adopt her, fellow Canadians. Dawne

"Dawne Peterson" ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

I thought we already did that lol

Happy to be of service!

Well, you've got to tell us what piece!!!

Cheryl

Generally, a tuque is similar to a bobble hat but longer, so that it droops down instead of just sitting snuggly on the head. In fact, when I was growing up in Canada (Winnipeg) what we called tuques were great long pointed things, probably at least a foot and a half long if not longer - great for getting wet and "snapping" people with!

As for the other "word", I recognise "tabernac", meaning tabernacle, at the end. Boy, have I heard that a few times!

Judy in UK

Sorry, Cheryl, I wasn't truly thinking. It's "Air Guitar" by Lynn Nicoletti. My manager collects guitars and currently has about 40. His birthday is coming up and once I saw this chart, I just knew it would be perfect for him. You can find it here:

for her Glow-In-the-Dark charts. Tegan

Dawne, I promise, I copied it straight out of the book! I'm sorta guessing that maybe in it's own way it's as potent as our M-F word, only not as vulgar. I really regret never getting to pester my Aunt for swear words! Although, I'm thinking that since she was French, and not of the Canadian variety, I would have gotten a different sort of education!

Thank you everyone for helping me to at least vaguely understand the words. I realize they really don't affect the plot at all, but sometimes it helps to know just what flavor the cursing is taking. Tegan

Hi Tegan:

The easiest way to describe a Canadian toque is to look up a pic. Go to Google and look for images. The best one is on the second page showing the Montreal Canadien 'toque' (with the bobble)

You'll also see chef's toques etc.

Wikipedia has a good definition - and shows the Canadian variant.

've got me really intrigued by these books - I'm going to have to start reading them.

Marg

Marg

Ah yes - Lynn Nicoletti - I've stitched Maple Leaf montage and have The Play's the Thing in my to do pile. She's a wonderful designer.

Marg

Oh that looks like a fun piece. I have to order the hockey chart on of these days.

Cheryl

Marg! DO IT! they are great books and unlike the Kay Scarpetti books, I still like the main characters!

Cheryl

"Tegan" wrote

I'm sorry--I didn't mean you ran the words together. I am sure the author did, to emphasize that a whole stream of cursing poured from someone. My DH worked as a cab driver in Montreal while going to university, and can let out just such a string. Dawne

I know some one from Quebec that can do that too! He always curses in French but I've slowly learned to "translate" so I can tell just how bad it is!

Cheryl

Oh, do read them! What I really like is that it's not so old that you can't find the whole series. I started with the most recent one, not realizing at that point that it WAS a series, but once I did, I was able to run up to Borders and find the whole series available. Right now I'm reading "Deadly Decisions", which is the third one. They make me want to drive north (uh.. maybe in July) and see some of the sights she's mentioned. Tegan