A Conversation for Gismos, Whatsits and Thingummy Doodahs - A Guide to Vague English
Completely doolally tap
PedanticBarSteward Started conversation Oct 18, 2010
I was stocked and shunned not to find the Indian transit camp at Deolali included in 'Do's and Don'ts'
Completely doolally tap
Icy North Posted Oct 18, 2010
I didn't put it in because doolally isn't a vague word like 'thingummy' or 'doodah', fascinating though the derivation is. Its meaning is quite precise - 'mad'.
Do you know the Indian placename that 'oojah' comes from?
Completely doolally tap
PedanticBarSteward Posted Oct 18, 2010
You are right - as ever.
I always thought that 'oojah' was derived from 'hijama' (Arabic blood-letting), quite 'why' had never crossed my mind, but the Indian origin sounds interesting and I shall delve into it.
Key: Complain about this post
Completely doolally tap
More Conversations for Gismos, Whatsits and Thingummy Doodahs - A Guide to Vague English
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."