National Limerick Day (12 May)

[Ross Clark]

Birthday of Edward Lear (1812-1888).
A Book of Nonsense (1846) has 112 of them.
But he didn't invent it, says Crystal, and cites:

And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink;
A soldier's a man
O, man's life's but a span;
Why, then, let a soldier drink.

(Shakespeare, Othello)

Yah, OK, he didn't invent the metrical pattern or the rhyme scheme.
But still -- The Limerick As We Know It?

He also didn't name it. Name first attested 1896, several years after
Lear's death.
Origin of name -- Crystal has a story, can't be arsed repeating it. May
check with OED.

[HenHanna]

Post by Ross Clark
Birthday of Edward Lear (1812-1888).
A Book of Nonsense (1846) has 112 of them.
And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink;
A soldier's a man
O, man's life's but a span;
Why, then, let a soldier drink.
(Shakespeare, Othello)
Yah, OK, he didn't invent the metrical pattern or the rhyme scheme.
But still -- The Limerick As We Know It?
He also didn't name it. Name first attested 1896, several years after
Lear's death.
Origin of name -- Crystal has a story, can't be arsed repeating it. May
check with OED.

i don't know that expression.
[can't be arsed ...ing it] -- is that NZ English?


what's the story?

[HenHanna]

Post by Ross Clark
Birthday of Edward Lear (1812-1888).
A Book of Nonsense (1846) has 112 of them.
And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink;
A soldier's a man
O, man's life's but a span;
Why, then, let a soldier drink.
-- (Shakespeare, Othello)
Yah, OK, he didn't invent the metrical pattern or the rhyme scheme.
But still -- The Limerick As We Know It?
He also didn't name it. Name first attested 1896, several years after
Lear's death.
Origin of name -- Crystal has a story, can't be arsed repeating it.
May check with OED.

what's the story?



i don't know that expression. ...
[can't be arsed repeating it] -- is that NZ English?



Yes, "can't be arsed repeating it" is a common expression in New Zealand
English. It's a vulgar slang way of saying "I can't be bothered
repeating it" or "I'm too lazy to repeat it."

Here's a breakdown:

"Can't be arsed": This is a vulgar slang way of saying "can't be
bothered." "Arsed" is a vulgar term for "having to do with the buttocks."

Context: This expression is used informally among friends or
acquaintances. It wouldn't be appropriate in formal settings.



Here are some ニュージーランド英語 (New Zealand English) alternatives with a
similar meaning, but less vulgar:

-- "Can't be bothered repeating it"

-- "I already said that"

-- "Look it up yourself" (informal)

While "can't be arsed" is understood in New Zealand, it's important to
be aware of the informal and potentially offensive nature of the term.

[HenHanna]

Post by Ross Clark
Birthday of Edward Lear (1812-1888).
A Book of Nonsense (1846) has 112 of them.
And let me the canakin clink, clink;
And let me the canakin clink;
A soldier's a man
O, man's life's but a span;
Why, then, let a soldier drink.                                 --
(Shakespeare, Othello)
Yah, OK, he didn't invent the metrical pattern or the rhyme scheme.
But still -- The Limerick As We Know It?
He also didn't name it. Name first attested 1896, several years after
Lear's death.
Origin of name -- Crystal has a story, can't be arsed repeating it.
May check with OED.

  what's the story?
                      i don't know that expression. ...
                    [can't be arsed repeating it] -- is that NZ English?
Yes, "can't be arsed repeating it" is a common expression in New Zealand
English. It's a vulgar slang way of saying "I can't be bothered
repeating it" or "I'm too lazy to repeat it."
"Can't be arsed": This is a vulgar slang way of saying "can't be
bothered." "Arsed" is a vulgar term for "having to do with the buttocks."
Context: This expression is used informally among friends or
acquaintances. It wouldn't be appropriate in formal settings.
Here are some ニュージーランド英語 (New Zealand English) alternatives
          -- "Can't be bothered repeating it"
          -- "I already said that"
          -- "Look it up yourself" (informal)
While "can't be arsed" is understood in New Zealand, it's important to
be aware of the informal and potentially offensive nature of the term.

No, William Shakespeare did not invent the limerick. The exact origin
of the limerick is a bit hazy, but here's what we know:

Limerick Timeline: The limerick form likely emerged in the 18th
or early 19th century. Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616, making him
much too early for the limerick's invention.