Here are two nearly forgotten Old English words which are still extant in Modern English in a certain sense.

‘Heremann’ is related to the German name Herman which originally meant "Army man" or "Man of the Army". It is a common name among the Germans and Dutch and still found occasionally in the English-speaking world too as in the case of the famous New England novelist Herman Melville, author of "Moby Dick." This word is not to be confused with Spanish ‘hermano’ (brother) which has a different etymology coming from the Latin germanus meaning "a full brother" (as opposed to a half brother).

‘Hererinc’ (soldier, warrior, hero)  and ‘rinc’ (bandit) may be the ancestor of "rink" a slang term used for bullies and rowdy guys in school during the mid-1960’s. Old English also had sae rinc meaning "a sea bandit" or "pirate."

I’ve only heard of a roller-rink, but that is where they played roller-derby…hehe…

j

from the Latin germanus

aha! and I always thought cousin-german had something to do with German mating habits. As for ‘German’,

It is perhaps of Gaulish (Celtic) origin, perhaps originally meaning "noisy" (cf. O.Ir. garim "to shout") or "neighbor" (cf. O.Ir. gair "neighbor").

Having spent too much time in Roman cafes in August,  I can see how ‘noisy neighbor’ is a likely etymology.

Btw, Melville wrote about New Bedford but he lived a couple of blocks from me (sadly, his house was torn down to make way for a row of nondescript apartment buildings, but I still enjoy walking his streets.)  And he wouldn’t have lasted a day in the army.  Or the navy.  And I respect him for that.

"rink" a slang term used for bullies and rowdy guys in school during the mid-1960’s.

Is this British?  Never heard it used that way in U.S.,  of course what do I know about the mid 60’s

[quote author=melissa link=board=etymology;num=1124954759;start=0#2 date=08/26/05 at 00:58:41] And he wouldn’t have lasted a day in the army.  Or the navy.  And I respect him for that.

Ah, the navy, where they separate the men from the boys.

with crowbars, if necessary.

Azh
(of fine Naval stock, thankyou)

From the best naval stock too,  but  running a ‘tight’ ship involved less use of the crowbar and more use of as they say, ‘over the yardarm’.

[quote author=melissa link=board=etymology;num=1124954759;start=0#4 date=08/26/05 at 01:17:34]From the best naval stock too,  but  running a ‘tight’ ship involved less use of the crowbar and more use of as they say, ‘over the yardarm’.

I admit it, you’ve got me over a barrel there.

Azh
(studiously avoiding the rope-ends in the sail locker)