Miscellaneous things you might not know

Date line Edinburgh:

Did you know that the origins of the term "toe the line" date back to the early British Parliament. During debate Members of Parliament would stand facing each other. The space between them was a swords length -holding the sword. Since MP's were armed, a line was drawn -toe line- that marked how far apart debaters should stand in the event that things got nasty and the swords came out.

Today the expression ear mark has positive and negative meanings. But the origin or the term may date back to the middle ages. A merchant found guilty of dishonesty had his ear nailed to a wall. It was a form of public shaming. Once the time was served -ear nailed to the wall- the nail was not removed first. Instead, the offender's ear was pulled off the wall making a permanent mark- ear lobbed ripped- on the ear.

When a child rides on an adult or an older child's back, we call it a piggy back ride. In olden time families shared their living spaces with pigs, chickens, cows, etc. When the baby pigs were around, children would ride them for fun. It was a literal piggy back ride.

The term pin money may have evolved when women wore lace collars that were pinned to their dresses. Because the pins were made of metal, they would rust in a couple of days especially during damp weather. New pins cost money and in those days women would need to ask their husbands for "pin money."

ps: My ankle is beginning to get a bit better and I am getting around Edinburgh. I did buy a walking stick which has helped.