I was perusing the history section of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst website (don't ask) and I came across the following little nugget that I thought might be of interest:
Two expressions from the old RMA [Royal Military Academy] passed into the language. "Talking Shop", meaning "to discuss subjects not understood by others", derives from the RMA being commonly known as "The Shop", as its first building was a converted workshop in Woolwich Arsenal. "Snooker", the table-top game, was invented by a former cadet of the RMA, where the members of the junior intake were known as "snookers", from a corruption of "les neux" (the new guys).
Isn't that cool?
Posted by Random Penseur at November 11, 2004 02:00 PMInteresting tidbits, RP!
I just assumed you were perusing the RMA website to see where prince Harry (or is it Wills?) will be attending soon...
Nope. Actually got curious about it while reading obits on the Telegraph about old war heros.
Posted by: RP at November 11, 2004 03:24 PMWho knew obits could be so educational!
And it is interesting. Thanks. I'm a language bug.
Well, this fact wasn't in the obits, actually. It was the obit that made me want to go find out more about Sandhurst, which is where I found this. And I know what you mean about the language thing.
Posted by: rp at November 11, 2004 04:59 PMI still think you were just reading People magazine and wanted to find out where prince Harry was going...
(Not that there's anything wrong with that...)