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Old 10-19-18, 06:57 AM   #13
ExFishermanBob
Difficulties Numbing
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: AN19
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I was taught that:-
  • 'man(n)' means 'adult human'
  • wo-man is adult female (somtimes wif-man)
  • were-man is adult male: not often used, now seen mostly in were-wolf (man-wolf) and in Scots 'fir' or 'fier'* (and Gaidhlg fear / fir) and 'vir' in a number of languages. You can also have wępenmann (weapon-man) meaning male (and an innuenedo on weapon)


And thus 'man-size' = 'adult-human-sized' and manhole, chairman and so on are perfectly descriptive and not in the least sexist.


However, I am old, and usage changes... I have a horse in this race, though, as due to my surname, I am in danger of becoming Mr Personperson.





* Burns', Auld Lang Syne, 'And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!'
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