In "", the first paragraph should answer your question. While the name is obvious inspired by the expression, I wonder if he ever gets into a popular movie if people will think the expression came from the name. Miracle") who is an expert in escapes and has a civilian name of "Scott Free". It sounds like it could be something similar to the very wrong idea that "picnic" came from a racial slur. October 26, 7:43 Laura Morland – I wonder when the confusion with Dred Scott arose. Netherlandophobic, or just a joke? Apparently, the Dutch see the humor in it. A Dutch couple told me (approvingly) of an old Dutch joke: did you know the Dutch invented copper wire? Two Dutchmen both grabbed a copper coin and pulled, and neither would let go. Regarding not wanting to be linguistically naughty: The Dutch are known for being tight with money. Up next: "Dutch treat"? (Does that phrase diss our Low-Country pals, or not?)ĭisappointed to learn that Scotland isn't the Land of Payments. I've never heard someone say "Scotch-free," but it shows up as a suggested Google search, so apparently it's a thing.Īnother mistaken etymology: according to, ome people wrongly suppose this phrase alludes to Dred Scott, the American slave who unsuccessfully sued for his freedom. ![]() Filed by Victor Mair under Errors, Etymology, Words words words." Scot implies a contribution toward some object to which others contributed equally". Hence scot-ale (n.) "a drinking party, probably compulsory, held by a sheriff, forester, bailiff, etc., for which a contribution was exacted", attested from late 12c., with ending as in bridal. 1300 as "payment for food or drink at a social gathering," also figurative (late 12c.), a sense also in the Old French word. The Old Norse verb form, skjota, has a secondary sense of "transfer to another pay." It is related to Old English sceotan "to pay, contribute," Middle English scotten "to bear one's share of " Dutch schot, German Schoß "tax, contribution."Īlso via Old French escot "reckoning, payment" (Modern French écot "share"), and via Medieval Latin scotum, scottum, both from Germanic, as is Spanish ecote.įrom c. ![]() "royal tax," a term that survived in old law and in scot-free late Old English, "municipal charges and taxes," also "a royal tax or contribution sometimes levied for support of local officers." This is from Old Norse skot "contribution," etymologically "a shooting, shot a thing shot, a missile" (from PIE root *skeud- "to shoot, chase, throw").
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