The article was about privacy rights and mentioned an inability in some on the right to not be very tech savvy. A mention was made to a pair of lobbyists/criminals referring to clients as "troglodytes."
I've heard/read the word before and know that it's meant as an insult. I hear the word and think of some sort of mythical stone being, something like an ancient Thing from The Fantastic Four, but not so bright perhaps. I imagine something hulking and ancient, weathered by time.
Regardless of what I thought I knew, I knew I didn't know.
The following is from answers.com or go directly to the troglodyte page.
Troglodytes is a genus of small passerine birds in the wren family. The genus name (Greek troglodytai, from trogle, "a hole" and dyein, "to enter") refers to the tendency of these wrens to enter small crevices and similar as they forage for food.Ssssssssssssoooooooooo . . .yeah . . .ya buncha dumbass wrens! HaHa, you forage for food and tend to make a buzzing noise in flight! Wrens SUCK! But seriously, I'm not Googling this one no matter how easy it is, but who the hell first used troglodyte as an insult? I'd love to know the context of this one.These wrens are around 11-12 cm long. They are typically streaked brown above and somewhat paler below, with short rounded wings, strong legs and a cocked tail. The flight is direct and buzzing.
6 comments:
??? I though troglodyte referred to people who lived the life of a hermit?
I've never heard it before, but it has a good "sound" to it. lol
From dictionary.com
1. 1. A member of a fabulous or prehistoric race of people that lived in caves, dens, or holes.
2. A person considered to be reclusive, reactionary, out of date, or brutish.
2.
1. An anthropoid ape, such as a gorilla or chimpanzee.
2. An animal that lives underground, as an ant or a worm.
Thanks for posting...now I can say I learned a new word today!!! Now, to go use it.
Indeed, I too read farther down the page to further non-bird references, but I enjoyed my own take. It's a lot funnier to think of the insult in terms of being called a wren.
True. It'll be fun to befuzzle people with the other definition of birds, too!
Yeah, I always pictured something like a gargoyle. Damn the internet for ruining our delusions of vocab knowledge again!
I think "Word of the Day" should be a regular feature on your blog.
Post a Comment