What gets even more confusing is when the same word has different US/Brit
meanings. There is also confusion between people who speak the same version
of English. The following examples are from the BRITISH/AMERICAN LANGUAGE
DICTIONARY, 1983 Edition, which tries to make sense of the differences.
First, the same word with different meaning depending on the side of the
pond you live. From page 133, the British dictionary for Americans:
NIPPLE, n - this means ONLY the nipple on a woman's breast (or man's
chest), never on a baby's bottle; this is a teat. Dr Benjamin Spock, in his
BABY AND CHILD CARE, a book which has had as wide circulation in Britain as
in America, suggests that if a baby has difficulty in feeding, it may by an
idea to widen the hole in the nipple by inserting a sharp needle. This has
caused some confusion and much wincing among young British mothers, but so
far as it known, no physical injury.
Now for folks who should know better, confusing which side of the water they
are on. Also from the section trying to explain English to their American
Cousins, from page 129:
Mistress, n - a member of the teaching staff in a girls' school. When,
during the Second World War, the RAF took over a famous girls' boarding
school called Roedean to billet trainee pilots, the new arrivals found next
to every bed a button and a notice saying: ' If you want a mistress during
the night, ring the bell.' The first night was bedlam so the story goes.
Enough said.
Jack
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