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Thanks for your understanding.
Chris -- 2018-04-11
The available etymology for “abdomen” is not very satisfying1. It might have come from Latin abdere for “conceal”; it passed through French, entered English as “belly fat” before being adopted as a anatomical term around 1600. Another source suggests that -domen may be connected with Skt. dáman, a rope, that which binds, and Gk. διάδημα, a fillet, to bind; cf. Skt. dá, Gk. δÎειν, to bind2.
With all the attention being paid to Mastering your Abs these days, it is no wonder the word is deforming under the strain. It has become the ab domain (2640 ghits).
Medical Question board:
HAVE A MUSCEL STRAIN IN MY ABDOMAIN AND WISH TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS
(http://www.justanswer.com/questions/c7a … -wish-find)
Gastroenterology forum:
I am 32 year old male. Since past few days i have pain in leftside of lower abdomain.
(http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroente … how/229589)
Exercise forum:
I know that the abdomain and lower back need to be several steps ahead of your adductors and Secrets Of Stretching explains why. However, what I’m not too clear on is just how strong your abdomain needs to be. How do I know when my abs are strong enough ? (http://www.stadion.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=41)
Body building forum:
I would really like to start to work out, and get more in shape. The lower part of my abdomain is very fatty.
(http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthrea … =111315511)
Medicine Questions:
Can anti-inflammation drug cause swelling down your ab-domain on right side?
(http://www.health2009.com/medicine/30505-78.html)
[1] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=abdomen
[2] http://www.20kweb.com/etymology_diction … bdomen.htm
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My God, this is beautiful. I especially like the last citation, with the hyphenation making the eggcorneal logic very clear. I wonder whether some of the users believe that the proper name for those muscles is the “abs”—without the realization that that term is merely a colloquial shortening. In any case, a very cool find.
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Yes, very cool. A classic, in my mind, despite (or in fact, almost because of) the etymological link between “abdomen†and “ab(s)â€.
*If the human mind were simple enough for us to understand,
we would be too simple-minded to understand it* .
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I fourth that. One of the best this year.
Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.
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