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<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western"> <font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">I sent this on December 27, and
received it, too, from the fictionary site. Didn't anybody else get
it?--And Hutch, if you get this from me, but not via fictionary, please
repost. If this isn't getting through, can somebody explore to see
what the problem is?--David<br>
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<br>
I'm quite happy with the variety
of definitions that people came up with! A good word, thinks I.
Elliott and Ranjit both got the same number of points guessed for them,
but Elliott put a two-point guess on the gray cloth, Ranjit only a
one-point guess, and Elliott emerges the winner! Etymology under the
OED definition.<br>
<br>
David<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
Musterdevillers - p. n. - A Dutch political party from 1955 until it
merged with the Christian Democratic Party in 1985.<br>
<br>
RANJIT: 2 (Eric) + 2 (Fran) + 1 (Judith) + 1 (Linda) + 1 (Aussie) + 1
(Correct Guess) = 8 points<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">musterdevillers - n.
- A kind of mixed grey woollen cloth, much used in the fourteenth and
fifteenth centuries.<br>
<br>
OED: 2 (Hutch) + 2 (Elliott) + 1 (Fran) + 1 (Ranjit) + 1 (Pierre) = 7
points<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big><br>
<small>Elliott: </small></big></font>Two points for plausible
etymology ("pattern of ..." whatever or wherever "villiers" may be).
<br>
<br>
[OED notes: [From the name of the town now called Montivilliers, in
Normandy. The name (in med.L. Monasterium Villare) appears in 1550 as
Musterdevillers (Coke Deb. betw. Heralds §108); 15th c. forms are
Moustervillers (in Paston Lett. I. p. lxxix), Mustirvilers (ibid. p.
8).] <br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big><br>
<small>musterdevillers -</small> </big></font>n. pl. - A sect of Jews
noted for adding capsicum to horseradish when making maror.<br>
<br>
PIERRE: 1 (Correct Guess) = 1 point<br>
<pre wrap=""><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big>musterdevillers </big></font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">- n. -</font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big> A type of grog taken for the relief of congestion.
LINDA: 0 points
</big></font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big>musterdevillers </big></font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">- n. - </font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big> A young man, generally of some breeding and wealth, but of dissolute morals.
ERIC: 1 (Elliott) = 1 point
Elliott: </big><big>The Rupert of Hentzau Award.</big></font>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big>
</big></font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big>musterdevillers </big></font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">- n. - </font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big> Engravers of a subordinate rank who cut repetitive patterns to prepare or perfect the work of a master engraver.
ELLIOTT: 2 (Judith) + 2 (Aussie) + 2 (Pierre) + 1 (Hutch) + 2 (Correct Guess) = 9 points
</big></font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big>musterdevillers - n. (Zool.) - <span
class="moz-txt-underscore"><span class="moz-txt-tag">_</span>Musca atkinseae<span
class="moz-txt-tag">_</span></span>, a two-winged fly formerly widespread through much of the world, esp. common to the Indian sub-continent, now limited mostly to northwestern Europe.
HUTCH: 2 (Correct Guess) = 2 points
Hutch: Will anyone recognize the Kipling reference herein? Do you? [Ed.: I did, but no one else commented upon it. But note that Judith's definition, by marvelous coincidence, draws from the same reference.]</big></font>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big>musterdevillers </big></font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">- n. -</font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big> People who make fun of soldiers on parade.
JUDITH: 0 points
</big></font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big>
</big></font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big>Musterdevillers </big></font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">- n. - </font><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><big> That region just off the Western Australian coast (generally between Perth and Augusta) where a large population of venomous jellyfish often gathers, especially in the summer (December-March). Also Musterdevillers Beach.
FRAN: 1 (Eric) + 1 (Correct Guess) = 2 points
musterdevillers - n. - 1) The authority of a mayor to convey ceremonial honors (e.g. key to the city) on a person. 2) A ceremony where such honors are conveyed.
JEAN-JOSEPH: 2 (Linda) + 2 (Ranjit) = 4 points
</big>
</font></pre>
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