> > >Paul Comino wrote:
> > >>To "loosen" this binding, you need to "compress" the screw, and I
> > >>would do this using a vice (vise for those who carnt spel)...
> >
> > And Steve replied...
> > >Now there is an interesting British/Aussie spelling variant. How do
> > >y'all keep your hobbies straight ;)
>
> >From the Alphabet of Stanley Tools(unknown vintage), Verse 22:
>
>       V is for Vises; We trust you'll agree "Jersey Vises" should
>       never be spelled with a 'C'.

Well, I've been here about a week and had planned to mill, er,
linger quietly in the background as a vagrant lurker, but I am
compelled to comment.

Or rather, question. I've been pondering the meaning of "Galoot" since
joining the list, and finally even discovered an FAQ that identified the
term as originating with a gang of five obsessing over a saw-set. Is
"galoot" really *not* an acronym? Surely the final "ot" stands for "old
tools." I'm hard pressed to figure out the leading "galo," though the
leading "g" might stand for gentlemen, grouches, grumps, gougers,
geezers, etc., or maybe even "galoots". Somebody help me out here.

For what it's worth my interest in the list is not tools so much as
woodworking and related odds 'n ends. Stuff like scarey-sharp, and wood
alchohol, er, I mean cleaning wood. There seems to be a lot of expertise
here, even though the focus is on tools. The saying goes "a craftsmen is
known by his tools." Or was that a Sears ad?

An introduction would probably be appropriate, too. By way of a
micro-bio, in a past life I worked as a residential carpenter for about
5 years. I think I eventually achieved the status of senior
wood-butcher from a carpenter's perspective, and maybe a
cabinet/furniture maker might let me in the shop, provided I didn't
touch. In any case, now, I've sort-of rediscovered an interest in
woodworking, and so that's what got me here. Not that I need any more
expensive or time consuming things to occupy my "spare" time. My
primary hobby is cycling, and my perspective with regard to bicycles is
that much of what makes for a fine bicycle is sacrificed in the
interest of "bottom lines" and mass-production. I guess it's kind of
analogous to the galoot philosophy on tools.

So, I don't have much to contribute, but so far it's been pretty
entertaining just listening.
--
Bob Newman GE Fanuc Automation, Inc. bob.newman@CHO.GE.COM
Charlottesville, VA

On Thu, 29 Aug 1996, Bob Newman wrote:

> Well, I've been here about a week and had planned to mill, er, linger
> quietly in the background as a vagrant lurker, but I am compelled to
> comment.
> 
> Or rather, question.  I've been pondering the meaning of "Galoot"
> since joining the list, and finally even discovered an FAQ that 
> identified the term as originating with a gang of five obsessing 
> over a saw-set.  Is "galoot" really *not* an acronym?  Surely the
> final "ot" stands for "old tools."  I'm hard pressed to figure out
> the leading "galo," though the leading "g" might stand for gentlemen,
> grouches, grumps, gougers, geezers, etc., or maybe even "galoots".  
> Somebody help me out here.
> 

There was some hare-brained tale earlier on this list tracing its
origins to a specific event in the Scottish highlands in the
early part of the 19th century a while back. 

An alternative account is that if you spell it backwards, you get
"TOOLAG"; take away the obvious part and you get AG, presumably
short for "acquirer grandissimo".

		-- werdnA

> Or rather, question.  I've been pondering the meaning of "Galoot"
> since joining the list, and finally even discovered an FAQ that 

> final "ot" stands for "old tools."  I'm hard pressed to figure out
> the leading "galo," though the leading "g" might stand for gentlemen,
> grouches, grumps, gougers, geezers, etc., or maybe even "galoots".  
> Somebody help me out here.

Bob,

My sawdust clogged brain doesn't allow me to recall the original posters:

1) Definition of Galoot: See Safire's column, NY Sunday Times, July 21.

2) Acronymic derivation: Galoot is really Toolga backwards. The "tool" 
part is self explainatory. "Ga" has a lot of different meanings depending 
upon the occasion. 

	GAgging as in looking at your latest project that you've glued up
GAss backwards. 
	GAssing as in  what I'm writing now.
	GAloomphing as in visiting yard sales, swap meets and flea markets.
	GAggling as geese when galoot spots galoot.
	GArousing as when the old lady asks you when the hell you're 
coming out of the shop.
	GArand standing about your latest tool acquistion but heaven 
forbid not about a completes project.
	Getting GA GA over somebody's infill smoother.

I'd go on but my boss just yelled "GAt off the damn computer and GAt some 
goddamned work done."

Welcome and I'll leave it to you to fill in the blanks.

Don Stern

Bob Newman wrote:

Snippage here

 
> Well, I've been here about a week and had planned to mill, er, linger
> quietly in the background as a vagrant lurker, but I am compelled to
> comment.
> 
> Or rather, question.  I've been pondering the meaning of "Galoot"
> since joining the list, and finally even discovered an FAQ that
> identified the term as originating with a gang of five obsessing
> over a saw-set.  Is "galoot" really *not* an acronym?  Surely the
> final "ot" stands for "old tools."  I'm hard pressed to figure out
> the leading "galo," though the leading "g" might stand for gentlemen,
> grouches, grumps, gougers, geezers, etc., or maybe even "galoots".
> Somebody help me out here.
> 

Hi Bob,
Welcome to galootville.
G's gotta stand for geezer, I allow...

Snipped off here

At 02:51 PM 8/29/96 -0400, you wrote:

super snip

>Bob Newman				GE Fanuc Automation, Inc.
>bob.newman@CHO.GE.COM			Charlottesville, VA
>

Lets see now, there Doug Marshall, Steve Chapin, John Casteen
(if he ever answers his e-mail), me and now Bob.

For a area of 100,000 folks (county and city) I bet theat Charlottesville,
VA has the highest galoot density in the nation.

Who's next,

BTW, Welcome Bob,

Todd (who actually lives in Batesville [ sorry no motel ])