Word for the Wise, January 29

[Uadzit]

Topic: W.C. Fields

Today we remember William Claude Dukenfield, born on this date in 1880. Today's birthday boy is better remembered as the entertainer W.C. Fields. He is not, however, remembered as an environmentalist, despite his numerous warnings about the water supply. "You can't trust water," confided Fields. "Even a straight stick turns crooked in it."

W.C. Fields came up with at least three reasons to avoid water. He pointed out "that's the stuff that rusts pipes;" acknowledged his fear that drinking water would become habit-forming; and mused darkly about how he would never drink water because of the disgusting things fish did in it. And, he reported to an audience, "Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water."

What else did the comedian leave us? In addition to more than a few good lines, he also left a casual name for an established medical condition. His characteristic bulbous enlarged red nose is known to laypeople as W.C. Fields nose; medical professionals know it as rhinophyma.

Questions or comments? Write us at wftw@aol.com Production and research support for Word for the Wise comes from Merriam-Webster, publisher of language reference books and Web sites including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.  

[Nechbet]

People think that rhinophyma is caused by drinking too much alcohol, but it's actually a severe form of rosacea.