wanigan results

[fictioneric at cluemail.com]

Fictioneers --

The winner this round is Ranjit, with 6 points -- four points for his 
def, plus his two-point vote for the correct definition.

Welcome to new player Nick.

The totals:
----------
Elliott:    4
Nick        0
Jim         1
Hutch       5
Fran        1
Judith      5
Snibor      0
J-J         0
James       0 + 2
David       3 + 2
Linda       2 + 1
Ranjit      4 + 2
Kir         0 + 1

With eight (8) points of votes for the true definition, I think we 
have a small case of the wisdom of crowds.  Congratulations, 
fictioneers.  The crowds certainly were correct in detecting a Native 
American source for the word, both in voting and in defs.  Our 
ability in this direction is intriguing.

Many of you also wrote in with clever and educated comments, I regret 
that lack of time prevents me from reproducing these in the results.

Take it away, Ranjit!

------------
Random House Dictionary of the English Language, College Edition, 1969

wanigan, n.  A lumber camp's supply chest.

Kir 1, Ranjit 2, Linda 1, David 2, James 2: 8

Interestingly, the American Heritage Dictionary
    http://www.bartleby.com/61/53/W0025350.html
accounts for both the disagreement (among dictionaries) as to the 
etymology of the word, and for the two definitions (supply chest vs. 
cabin add-on).  In Maine, at one end of the range of Algonquian 
languages, it was borrowed into English as a supply chest.  In 
Alaska, at the other, it was borrowed for a hut.  They also claim 
that the Alaskan English usage is still common.
------------
Elliott

wanigan (also wanigane), n.  1.  (Law)  Properly, any child begotten 
or adopted for the purpose of depriving another person of an 
inheritance.  2. In common usage, an adopted son older than the 
eldest natural son.

     GENERAL:  Have you ever known what it is to be a wanigan?
     JUAN (baffled):  A Juan, *again*?
     GENERAL:  Yes, have you ever known what it is to be one?

W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, "The Pirates of Cancun" (1881).
(Law -- French wanigane, wanigan < OE wanigan 'turning aside, 
diversion' -- more at WANE.)

Kir 2, Hutch 1, Nick 1: 4
------------
Nick

wanigan, n.  1. A sweater worn for ceremonial purposes only.  2. Any 
article of clothing worn for one fortnight out of each month.
------------
Jim

wanigan, n.  1. Material removed from a clogged pipe.  2. Obstruction.

Ranjit, 1: 1
------------
Hutch

wanigan, n.  Punishment inflicted in return for a wrong, vengeance.

Fran 1, Snibor 2, Nick 2: 5
------------
Fran

wanigan (also Wanigan spline), n.  A mathematical procedure for 
fitting a curve to experimental data using first derivatives and 
recursion.

David, 1: 1
------------
Judith

wanigan, n. (Nebraskan slang)  The highest executive of a brewery.

Hutch 2, Fran 2, James 1: 5
------------
Snibor

wanigan, adj.  Wasteful, especially of an inheritance.
------------
Jean-Joseph

wanigan, n.  Absolutist meritocracy without consideration of seniority.
------------
James

wanigan, n. (obs.)  1. A baseball player who has recently joined a 
new team.  2. A young baseball player.
------------
David

wanigan, n. (Pequod)  A stew made from baked corn and strips of dried 
opossum meat.

Linda 1, Judith 2: 3
------------
Linda

wanigan, n.  A throwing stick used by the Sioux, Shoshone, or 
Cheyenne tribes.  Sticks were often gathered in their wanderings and 
stored for later use.

Judith 1, Elliott 1: 2
------------
Ranjit

wanigan, n.  A legendary creature said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of 
southern New Jersey, often described as hooved and winged.  More 
widely known as the Jersey Devil.  The name 'wanigan' is attributed 
to the Delaware Indians formerly inhabiting the Pine Barrens, but 
this is doubtful.

Linda 1, Snibor 1, Elliott 2: 4


-- 
-- Eric   |   fictioneric at cluemail.com