Incorrect facts corrected
Discussion
Got one of those plant identifier apps and this morning identified a fragrant tree as a 'small-leaved lime', which, according to the blurb was what the French thought the British used to make ships giving rise to the epithet 'Limey' for British people. This corrects what I thought was the origin of this - that sailors were given limes to prevent scurvy, which makes sense because where would they have got limes in sufficient quantities that lasted the duration of a voyage in the middle ages?
So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
Aluminum is an American murder of Aluminium.
It was originally called Alumium but that changed to Aluminum. It was then argued from a point of scientific snobbery that it should have an -ium ending like many other elements (e.g. sodium, barium, potassium etc.) so it was changed to alumin-ium but that was after aluminum came into popular usage in America and they stuck with it.
Similarly, the -ize ending on words like recognise/ize isn't American butchery of the English language. The -ize ending was in common usage in Britain at the time of the American colonisiation/zation but changed over time.
-ize comes from a greek root whereas -ise was influenced by French.
It was originally called Alumium but that changed to Aluminum. It was then argued from a point of scientific snobbery that it should have an -ium ending like many other elements (e.g. sodium, barium, potassium etc.) so it was changed to alumin-ium but that was after aluminum came into popular usage in America and they stuck with it.
Similarly, the -ize ending on words like recognise/ize isn't American butchery of the English language. The -ize ending was in common usage in Britain at the time of the American colonisiation/zation but changed over time.
-ize comes from a greek root whereas -ise was influenced by French.
StevieBee said:
Got one of those plant identifier apps and this morning identified a fragrant tree as a 'small-leaved lime', which, according to the blurb was what the French thought the British used to make ships giving rise to the epithet 'Limey' for British people. This corrects what I thought was the origin of this - that sailors were given limes to prevent scurvy, which makes sense because where would they have got limes in sufficient quantities that lasted the duration of a voyage in the middle ages?
So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
The French thing is rubbish. The French for Lime isn't Lime. They'd have called us "Chaux" or somesuch.So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
The scurvy thing is correct.
So Correct facts falsified and then corrected again.
StevieBee said:
Got one of those plant identifier apps and this morning identified a fragrant tree as a 'small-leaved lime', which, according to the blurb was what the French thought the British used to make ships giving rise to the epithet 'Limey' for British people.
I mean, that's clearly balls 
EmailAddress said:
Doofus said:
StevieBee said:
Got one of those plant identifier apps and this morning identified a fragrant tree as a 'small-leaved lime', which, according to the blurb was what the French thought the British used to make ships giving rise to the epithet 'Limey' for British people. This corrects what I thought was the origin of this - that sailors were given limes to prevent scurvy, which makes sense because where would they have got limes in sufficient quantities that lasted the duration of a voyage in the middle ages?
So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
The French thing is rubbish. The French for Lime isn't Lime. They'd have called us "Chaux" or somesuch.So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
The scurvy thing is correct.
So Correct facts falsified and then corrected again.
Citation required.
Google - "Why are Briritsh sailors called Limey?"
Also - "Are Briritsh sailors called Limey because of the wood used to build their ships?"
StevieBee said:
Got one of those plant identifier apps and this morning identified a fragrant tree as a 'small-leaved lime', which, according to the blurb was what the French thought the British used to make ships giving rise to the epithet 'Limey' for British people. This corrects what I thought was the origin of this - that sailors were given limes to prevent scurvy, which makes sense because where would they have got limes in sufficient quantities that lasted the duration of a voyage in the middle ages?
So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
I thought the Americans called us 'Limeys' and the French call us "Roast Beef".So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
TGCOTF-dewey said:
My favourite.
The Brontosaurus never existed. A case of mistaken identity.
Except it DOES exist...The Brontosaurus never existed. A case of mistaken identity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontosaurus
bigandclever said:
StevieBee said:
Got one of those plant identifier apps and this morning identified a fragrant tree as a 'small-leaved lime', which, according to the blurb was what the French thought the British used to make ships giving rise to the epithet 'Limey' for British people.
I mean, that's clearly balls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limey
Roast Beef from the French was about the same time iirc.
StevieBee said:
Got one of those plant identifier apps and this morning identified a fragrant tree as a 'small-leaved lime', which, according to the blurb was what the French thought the British used to make ships giving rise to the epithet 'Limey' for British people. This corrects what I thought was the origin of this - that sailors were given limes to prevent scurvy, which makes sense because where would they have got limes in sufficient quantities that lasted the duration of a voyage in the middle ages?
So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
The lime trees that grow here are completely different and unrelated to the citrus limes.So, in the spirit of the other 'Shocking Facts' thread, what other interesting facts we take as fact are in fact, wrong?
Doofus said:
The French thing is rubbish. The French for Lime isn't Lime. They'd have called us "Chaux" or somesuch.
The scurvy thing is correct.
So Correct facts falsified and then corrected again.
You beat me to it, Doof. Apparently the French word for what we call the lime tree is 'tilleul'.The scurvy thing is correct.
So Correct facts falsified and then corrected again.
As an aside, limestone, lime trees and lime fruits are not related, it's just coincidence that they all have lime in the name,
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