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Archiveschad- and I don't mean the country in Africa or the boy's name
I know this site is about people's names but I have looked everywhere for the derivation of the word chad we are hearing so much about lately. I KNOW it's a piece of paper from a punch card, but WHY ON EARTH is it called a chad. All the dictionaries I've found say origin unknown. SOMEONE must know. Help me out here if you can--I can't sleep--this is driving me nuts!
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Replies
Janet,
Hope you're sleeping better by now. Anyway, there's no consensus on the origin of this term:
1) It may derive from "chat" -- small white pieces of rock resulting from lead mining. Seems like a stretch tho.
2) It may derive from the name of the "Chadless" paper punch (named after its inventor, a Mr Chadless), which was designed to keep the little paper punches off the floor.
3) Maybe we should call a "pregnant chad" a "Dershowish", because Mr Gore's most prominent attorney Mr Dershowitz WISHES it were a legal vote...
4) Idle thought: if the hanging paper left from an incomplete punch is a "chad", is the hole left by a complete punch a "jeremy"? Sorry, showing my age.
Hope you're sleeping better by now. Anyway, there's no consensus on the origin of this term:
1) It may derive from "chat" -- small white pieces of rock resulting from lead mining. Seems like a stretch tho.
2) It may derive from the name of the "Chadless" paper punch (named after its inventor, a Mr Chadless), which was designed to keep the little paper punches off the floor.
3) Maybe we should call a "pregnant chad" a "Dershowish", because Mr Gore's most prominent attorney Mr Dershowitz WISHES it were a legal vote...
4) Idle thought: if the hanging paper left from an incomplete punch is a "chad", is the hole left by a complete punch a "jeremy"? Sorry, showing my age.
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Davidh,
I like option #2 and that's the one I'm settling on.
I, too, was wondering where the "jeremies" were lurking so we must be about the same age.
Here's a good one. A friend of mine says they (the chads) are the same general shape as the country. A bit of stretch that one!
Yes I'm sleeping better now, but I think I'll be tossing and turning for about four years. Thanks for your help. I'll tune in just to keep up with you and CheBanana.
I like option #2 and that's the one I'm settling on.
I, too, was wondering where the "jeremies" were lurking so we must be about the same age.
Here's a good one. A friend of mine says they (the chads) are the same general shape as the country. A bit of stretch that one!
Yes I'm sleeping better now, but I think I'll be tossing and turning for about four years. Thanks for your help. I'll tune in just to keep up with you and CheBanana.
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Actually the original Chad was a Greek Orthodox monk who lived in Ireland in the seventh century. Chad was eventually sanctified by the Celtic Orthodox Church.
Their is no historical evidence that StChad was the inventor of confetti.
Their is no historical evidence that StChad was the inventor of confetti.
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Was St. Chad the Greek sanctified with or without the blessing of the Supreme Celtic Court?
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Them was all hangin' judges back then. Roy Bean (or Dubya) would've felt right at home.
St. Chad died of the plague two years after being named a bishop, so the recounts didn't do him much good. Goreat emptor.
St. Chad died of the plague two years after being named a bishop, so the recounts didn't do him much good. Goreat emptor.
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