Wednesday 28 February 2007

Words of Interesting Origin: grog/groggy

groggy

definition: unsteady and dazed; shaky.

example: "When I wake up early in the morning I feel groggy until I have some coffee"

origin: Rum began in the West Indies and became a naval drink in the early 18th century. Admiral Vernon, in 1740 ordered that it should be mixed with water before being given to the crew. The admiral used to wear a cloak made of a coarse fabric called 'grogram': his nickname was Old Grog. 'Grog' became rum and water. 'Groggy' began as drunk and moved onto genererally shaky.

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