tantivy - n., a full gallop, rush. adj., swift, rapid. adv., at full gallop.
Not often you see an adverb with the same form as the related noun/adjective. Also used as an interjection while riding tantivy while hunting. Pronounced tan-TIV-ee. To my surprise, does not seem to be Irish, but fully English, first recorded around 1640, but being slang probably coined earlier -- and being slang, its derivation is unknown.
---L.
Not often you see an adverb with the same form as the related noun/adjective. Also used as an interjection while riding tantivy while hunting. Pronounced tan-TIV-ee. To my surprise, does not seem to be Irish, but fully English, first recorded around 1640, but being slang probably coined earlier -- and being slang, its derivation is unknown.
---L.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 01:47 am (UTC)