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 Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 10:51 am
Topic: Nylon
Nylon is both a man-made material and a man-made word: the singular form names "any of numerous strong tough elastic synthetic polyamide materials that are fashioned into fibers, filaments, bristles, or sheets and used especially in textiles and plastics"; the plural nylons names "stockings made of nylon."
Although the inventor and namer of nylon was free to trademark and "own" that term, the manufacturer decided (and we quote) "to allow the word to enter the vocabulary as a synonym for stockings."
We described nylon as man-made; since 1615, man-made has named "something manufactured, created, or constructed by human beings." Man-made also has the specific sense "synthetic"; something synthetic is produced by synthesis, such as chemical or biochemical synthesis, "the production of a substance by the union of biological or chemical elements, groups, or simpler compounds."
The Greek ancestor of the word synthesis names "the action of putting together," and we would guess that many nylon-wearers believe such sheathing of the legs helps them look put together.
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.
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:16 am
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 8:55 pm
not nearly as many people wear nylons as used to...
i wonder why?
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