What's in a Word?

Definition One Liner:

Compromise: n. The art of slicing a cake in such a way that everyone
believes they received the biggest piece.

In one of my previous Blogs I talked about the names in my Nickisson Family Tree and which ones were the most popular, but one of the main questions I'm asked is;

Where does the word/name "Nickisson" originate from?

When I started looking at my tree some 6 years ago I dreamed we originated from some Scandinavian country and came over here with the vikings, pillaging and........ well you know the rest!!!!!!

I was ready to pack a case, pen and paper in hand, and travel to Norwegion fjords, eat danish pastries in Denmark and enjoy the winter sports of Sweden (whilst listening to Abba) .
But no!
Even going back to the early 1700's we were still living in Stone, Staffordshire, so where does 'Nickisson' originate from?

• The internet Surname Database;

The ultimate origin of the given name is from the ancient Greek "Nikolaos", from "nikan", to conquer, and "laos", people; this was a very popular name among Christians throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, mainly through the fame of St. Nic(h)olas, a 4th Century Lycian bishop, about whom a large number of legends grew up, and who was venerated in the Orthodox Church as well as the Catholic. The given name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Nicolaus", while the short form appears in Yorkshire in 1316, when "John son of Nyk" is listed in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield. The modern surnames formed from patronymics of "Nick" include: Nix, Nicks, Nickes, Nixon, Nixson, Nickinson, Nickisson and Nickerson.

• 'Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary' By Henry Harrison 1996

NICKIN = Nick (q.v.) + the Fr. dim. suff. -in.

The French form is Nicquin.

NICKINS, Nickin's (Son)

NICKINSON,  NICKISSON } Nickin's Son } v. Nickin.

• 'Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames'By Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley 1996

Nickinson, Nickisson
Baptised 'The son of Nicholas'
Nickinson is probably a coruption of Nicklinson and Nickisson an extension of Nickson (v Nix)

CLEAR AS MUD.....

• I'm not even going to mention the possible connection to Santa Claus!!!!!!!!!!

If you know the meaning of 'Nickisson', please let me know.

Definition One Liner:

Smile: n. A curve that can set a lot of things straight.

What's in a Word?

Definition One Liner:

Etc.: abb. An abbreviation that makes others think
you know more than you actually do.

"Allotment"

Noun
allotment (plural allotments)

1.The act of allotting; assignment.
2.That which is allotted; a share, part, or portion granted or distributed; that which is assigned by lot, or by the act of God; anything set apart for a special use or to a distinct party.
3.(law) The allowance of a specific amount of scrip or of a particular thing to a particular person.
4.(UK) A plot of land rented from the council for growing fruit and vegetables

So what is going on at the allotment?

We are starting this week to fill seed trays in the greenhouse.

We have the usual variety of plants: Beans, Peas, Leeks, Brussels Sprouts, Raddish, Beetroot, Lettuce, Turnips, Courgettes, Sweetcorn, etc. We are going to try Parsnips and Broccoli for the first time. Onions and Early Potatoes are now ready to go in the ground and we have the late potatoes in a tray "chitting".

Talk about "What's in a word"!!!!

Chitting is a method of preparing potatoes for planting. The seed potatoes are placed in a tray in a light and cool place. All but three or four of the "eyes" (sprouting parts) of the potato are removed, leaving the strongest growths only. Once the sprouts are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, the seed potatoes are planted in the ground.

(We sound really clever don't we, not really!)

Lets hope the frosts have now finished or are at least, less severe. We have Cabbage and Cauliflower that have wintered under fleece and netting, see photo above. We want to remove the fleece but is the sun were having giving us a false impression? We'll leave them for another week.

We are now ready for the growing season.

It seems to have been a long time coming, cannot wait any more.

And finally:

Definition One Liners:

Avoidable: v. What a bullfighter tried to do.
Burglarize: n. What a crook sees with.
Counterfeiters: npl. Workers who install kitchen cabinets.

Eclipse: v. What an Cockney barber does for a living.

Eyedropper: n. A clumsy ophthamologist.

Paradox: npl. Two physicians.

Parasites: npl. What you see from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Pharmacist: n. A farm hand.

Relief: v. What trees do in the spring.

Rubberneck: vp. What you do to relax your wife.

See you soon