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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 7, 2006 'Crotchety' dates to the 16th century My coworkers are wondering where the word crotchety came from. They are familiar with the definition but want to know the origin. -- J.P., Eagle Point Use of the word — meaning capriciously stubborn or eccentric, perverse, having a difficult and contrary disposition, cantankerous or ornery — dates back to 1825. It's derived from the French "crotchet," meaning "whim or fancy," which was in use in 1573. In fact, the Bard himself played on the word in "Measure for Measure": "The duke had crotchets in him. He would be drunk too; that let me inform you." In its original, 14th-century sense, the word meant an architectural ornament of curled leaves. In Old French, crochet meant "hook." How it got to be a term for describing some of our own coworkers, J.P., is anybody's guess. Some etymologists have suggested hook was used in the sense of twisted, which led to difficult and ornery, which describes us journalists perfectly. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We're sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy