A simple shoe, popular in parts of Europe, gave us an everyday word. ``Sabotage’’ comes from the term ``sabot’’, a wooden shoe made of a single piece of hollowed-out wood – or with a thick wooden sole - commonly worn in France and Belgium.
Of course, the way in which the sabot gave us the word sabotage is half the fun, David. I can't believe a punny guy like yourself didn't take the opportunity to point out that during the industrial revolution, these wooden shoes were thrown into the machinery to bring it to a halt, "sabotaging" productivity, and truly clogging up the works!
Spot-on, Allan I'd actually forgotten the industrial revolution bit, but you jogged my memory! Yet another memorable comedy routine from you, my friend! I guess that's how we get the phrase ``going like clog-work''. Sorry, but you would have said it if I didn't! Cheers David
A simple shoe, popular in parts of Europe, gave us an everyday word. ``Sabotage’’ comes from the term ``sabot’’, a wooden shoe made of a single piece of hollowed-out wood – or with a thick wooden sole - commonly worn in France and Belgium.
Of course, the way in which the sabot gave us the word sabotage is half the fun, David. I can't believe a punny guy like yourself didn't take the opportunity to point out that during the industrial revolution, these wooden shoes were thrown into the machinery to bring it to a halt, "sabotaging" productivity, and truly clogging up the works!
ReplyDeleteSpot-on, Allan
ReplyDeleteI'd actually forgotten the industrial revolution bit, but you jogged my memory!
Yet another memorable comedy routine from you, my friend!
I guess that's how we get the phrase ``going like clog-work''.
Sorry, but you would have said it if I didn't!
Cheers
David