Stool.
This word has taken quite a hit.
Stool pigeon. Between two stools. Stoolie.
Then the inevitable one that results in a grimace by most.
Stool + softener. Ech.
Obviously, one can understand the whole “softener” part of the equation.
But, I readily admit that my eyebrow moved slightly upward, along with a quick bending of my neck when I attempted to speculate as to how someone arrived at the term “stool” as it relates to the “softener” equation.
And, you also may be wondering as to why I am even commenting on this topic.
The Reason as to “Why” This Topic Stopped Me in My Tracks
It germinated from a person behind a counter bellowing these two words, along with a few more, in a public area. Let’s assume, for the sake of the story, the name of the couple is Mr. & Mrs. Cooke.
While I was waiting in line at the pharmacy, the woman behind the counter, in a very loud voice, sounding as if she was summoning hordes of people from miles around, exclaimed, “Mr. and Mrs. Cooke, your stool softener is ready! We have your stool softener over here at this counter.”
Lovely. She was probably waiting to make this declaration for years. So glad to know that the Cooke’s are dealing with this. So sad for them that the entire shopping center knows about their infirmity. Watching them walk up to the counter looked like they were going on a voyage, never to return.
Have you ever yelled out something you wish you hadn’t?
Has someone else ever yelled out something about you, that you wish they hadn’t?
The Etymology of Stool
Stool- O.E. stol "seat for one person," from P.Gmc. *stolaz (cf. O.Fris. stol, O.N. stoll, O.H.G. stuol, Ger. Stuhl "seat," Goth. stols "high seat, throne"), from PIE *sta-lo-, locative of base *sta- "to stand" (cf. Lith. pa-stolas "stand," O.C.S. stolu "stool;". Originally used of thrones (cf. cynestol "royal seat, throne"); change of meaning began with adoption of chair from French, which relegated stool to small seats without arms or backs, then "privy" (early 15c.) and thence to "bowel movement" (1530s).
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