Is the word "WOW" an acronym for something? Just curious.

[Shine]

Does anybody know?
:shrug:

A random Friday morning question for the lounge to ponder...

[WCGreen]

1. Aunti Montie Peea

[Shine]

6. What?! Sorry, WC, I soooo don't get it.

Please excuse my lame-nitude.

[WCGreen]

17. Onomatopoeia....

:Word formation by imitation of the sound made by what is represented....

Trying to be WAY to clever.....

[Shine]

20. Oh, right.

Jeez, and I thought I was smart. Oh well.

You are a VERRRY clever boy. :thumbsup:, dude.

[Hugin]

2. Well... If you turn it over it says... "MOM"

While we're pondering.

[Shine]

7. Yup, that's a good one.

Thanks for the newsflash, friend. ;)

:yourock:

[anarch]

3. yes, it is an acronym for "wow...oh, wow!" n/t

[Shine]

10. Hmmmm..wow, that really narrows it down.

Not.

;)

[Orrex]

4. Worlds of Wonder

Purveyors of that ursine abomination Teddy Ruxpin.

[Shine]

12. Now THAT's a good one. Makes sense to me.

but who the hell is Teddy Ruxpin? :shrug:

Color me clueless....

PS. LOVE the word "ursine", btw. :thumbsup:

[Divameow77]

Wasn't Teddy Ruxpin

that dumb talking bear toy thing?

[Shine]

21. Sorry, I have NO idea.

:shrug:

[formerrepuke]

5. "Wonder of wonders!"

[Shine]

14. Yup, that one makes sense, too.

:thumbsup:

[patcox2]

8. Whip em Out Wednesday

Its an Opie and Anthony thing.

[Shine]

15. LOL!

cute.

[patcox2]

62. Have you seen the little black and yellow WOW stickers?

they are all over trucks in this area, they say "Opie and Anthony" in small letters under the WOW.

[Shine]

70. No, I guess I've missed those.

hmmm...

Oh well.

:hi:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

32. They used to rule on WAAF.

They did get a little (read: far) too carried away though.

[Shine]

41. What's WAAF?

Gawd, I'm soooo lame. It must be a sports thang, right? :eyes:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

43. Boston rock station

107.3

Still the best station and I miss it dearly!!

[Shine]

45. Oh, got it. What happened? Did you move or something?

If it broadcasts online maybe you can still catch it. I'm out here on the west coast and my favorite station, KPIG, broadcasts online. In fact, they have the distinction of being THE first one in the country to do so. It's cool.

Just a thought....

:hi:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

47. I think the broadcast is online

but I have no real opportunity to listen. Can't at work, won't at home.

Yeah, I moved away from Massachusetts about 6 years ago. Oh well... :cry:

[Shine]

50. Bummer, dude.

That sucks.

Here's a :hug:, from me to you.

[DS1]

64. Actually AAF used to be good, now it totally blows

I mean, REALLY blows

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

65. Does it?

I mean, it's been 6 years since I actively listened.

[DS1]

67. It's been about 2 years since I've tuned in, but walking past

any form of construction zone immediately refreshes my memory of their suckitude

[Shine]

72. "Suckitude".....LOL!! Now THAT'S a new word!

:thumbsup:
I like it.

[MissMillie]

71. I remember it from way back, when God used to do the weather in the a.m.

That's when it was good.

[patcox2]

61. Anal sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral, thats pretty far.

I was listening that day. Then the couple came back to the studio and did it again right in front of the sponsor, Koch, who owns Samuel Adams beer,.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

63. Hey, they didn't force the couple to do it.

When are people responsible for their own actions?

[MissMillie]

60. Opie and Anthony's War on Women

misogynistic turds, those two.

[Metta]

9. It's a palindrome. "~~>

Reads the same backwards and forwards.

[Orrex]

11. My friend Bob Hannah said the same thing.

And he's always on the level.

[Shine]

18. Alrighty then!

:thumbsup:

[Metta]

23. He knows what he's talking about.

nt.

[Shine]

16. Yeah, but what does it MEAN??

I can't help it, I'm always searching for meaning in the most mundane things....

Maybe you can relate. Maybe I'm simply nuts.

heheh.

:hi:

[Metta]

22. Just an exclamation. It's also onomotopoetic, if you ask me.

nt.

[Shine]

27. Yeah, WC Green just clued me into that particular word.

Onomotopoetic: Now THAT's what we'd call a "25 cent word"! Cool.

[AirmensMom]

13. Window On the World?

We Over-Work?

:shrug:

[Shine]

19. Why, Window on the World, you may be right!

;)

:thumbsup:

[AirmensMom]

24. But ... but ... but ...

I don't know what put it into my head. Where is that window?

:bounce:

[Shine]

28. Don't jump!! Don't do it!! Life is worth living!!

;)

[AirmensMom]

29. LMAO

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

OK, is rolling OK?

[WCGreen]

25. If you tattoo a w on each butt cheeck....

When ya bend over, it says WOW....

[Shine]

30. Ewwwww....!!!!!!!

Thanks for such a lovely visual. LOL!!

How 6th grade of you. You'd be a big hit with my son. :thumbsup:

[WCGreen]

33. Right to the gutter......

[Shine]

36. My kinda guy.....

:loveya:

[bikebloke]

26. Saw in a film

Some film based on a Hanif Kureishi book, or maybe his original screenplay, a character asked his girlfriend why she had a "w" tattooed on each cheek of her bum. She replied that when she bent over, it said "WOW".

I think "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid".

[Shine]

31. See WC's post above. He mentioned the same thing.

I didn't know it came from a movie. Interesting visual, eh?

There was a whole movie made about two people getting laid? Was it a porn movie or something?

[bikebloke]

40. Not porn

Kureishi's theme is usually East Indians in London.

films:
Sammi and Rosie Get Laid
My Beautiful Launderette
The Buddha of Suburbia
London Kills Me

novels:
The Buddha of Subburbia
Intimacy
The Black Album
Gabriel's Gift

[Shine]

42. Oh, cool. I've seen "My Beautiful Laundrette". Good little flick.

Maybe one of these days I'll check out the other ones...

[DiverDave]

34. Wendy O. Williams

she was the WOW of the '80's

[Shine]

37. Hmmmm...good to know.

In case I'm ever playing Trivial Pursuit and that comes up.

;)

:thumbsup:

[khashka]

49. Wow!

Somedy besides me actually remembers her....

Khash.

[Twillig]

55. Best episode of "Fishin' Musician" ever. n/t

[zanne]

35. World of Wieners

Just a thought.

[Shine]

38. And a good thought it was. LOL!

:silly:

[Arkana]

39. World of Warcraft...?

I dunno. :shrug:

[Shine]

44. Silly. Nope, I think "Wonder of Wonders" is the top choice.

posted upthread above, by some other smarter person than me.

[khashka]

46. I've seen it used as shorthand for

Women Of the World....

Khash.

[Shine]

52. Cool, I can dig it.

:thumbsup:

[Xithras]

48. Truth: Actually, it's an ancient translation error. Seriously.

Well, I guess ancient is relative. According to my Etymological Dictionary, the word WOW first showed up in Scotland in the 1500's when a writer translated an old Latin text into English. The Latin text had an expression of joy that didn't have an English equivalent, but which sounded sort of like "waahw". Rather than adapting the text, the translator took a previously little-known Scottish word "Wahw", which was an exclamation of surprise, and used it. Since nobody had ever written the word in English before, he wrote it as "Wow". The book became famous, and the word stuck in the popular vocabulary.

No kidding, and no lie. We even know that they guys name was Douglas.

[El Fuego]

51. Wow, the things you learn on DU!

[Shine]

53. Wow, that's amazing, Xithras!!

How cool to get that little word lesson from you. Thanks for that.

Who knew? Wow.

:thumbsup:

I actually think somebody else upthread mentioned Douglas, but off the top of my head I can't remember.

[Xithras]

57. Most words have interesting histories.

It's unfortunate that modern educational methods teach kids words and what they mean today, but don't put them into any kind of historical context. Words are fascinating to those with an interest.

Your nickname, for example, is descended from one of the oldest words known to humanity. Nearly every language in Eurasia from Europe to the Middle East and into India is descended from a single Proto Indo-European language that arose between the Caspian and Black seas some time after the last Ice Age ended. This Proto Indo-European language had a work in it that was pronounced "skai", which meant "to ficker or glimmer". This made it into the ancient Germanic languages as "skinanan", into the Norse languages as "skina", and survived into German as scheinen, into Dutch as schijnen, into old French as skina, and into old English as scinan. It also survives in Sanskrit as chaya and in Greek as skia. When English was "modernized" after the Norman invasions, Scina became Shin since the original C was silent and the old English "a" made more of an "uh" sound. The E was added later to emphasize the long I.

If you had a time machine and went back 10,000 years, you could point to a glittering rock, call it "shiny", and have them understand you. Of course, they'd correct your pronounciation ("skaini"), but the word itself would be understandable.skia

[Shine]

69. Wow. That's totally cool.

I am gifted by the knowledge you share. Thanks, Xithras. :hug: I really appreciate you letting me know the origin of "Shine". I love that it's one of the "oldest words known to humanity". I had no idea. I'm printing out what you wrote. :thumbsup:

Shine is my sacred "spirit name". To me, it speaks of the Light and Love I strive to bring to the planet....and really, what we ALL bring to the planet and ourselves when we remember we are ONE.

Now, I HAVE to ask....where did "Xithras" come from? I'm sure you must have a fascinating story on that one. :)

edit: spelling...duh.

[Shine]

54. Nope, I was wrong. Nobody else mentioned Douglas, afterall.

it was Teddy Ruxpin who was mentioned...whoever he is...
:shrug:

Thanks again for the newsflash on the origin of the word. Good job!

[soleft]

56. I know 3

Whip 'em Out Wednesday

Work Out World

Womens One World ( See www.wowcafe.org)

[Shine]

73. Cool!! Some others upthread have mentioned those, too.

I love learning new things....
:thumbsup:

[ComerPerro]

58. According to all of my roommates, Worlds of Warcraft

So, yes

[Shine]

74. Yeah, somebody else upthread mentioned that one, too.

Is that like a Dungeons and Dragons game thing, or something? I've never heard of it before.

Color me clueless...

:eyes:

[ComerPerro]

80. Online fantasy RPG. Think Legend of Zelda

with other players running around your map at the same time.

[Ivan Sputnik]

59. Lots of things

Walk on Water
Women Online Worldwide
Women on Work
Worlds of Wonder
World Organization of Webmasters
White on White
William of Wales (Prince William of UK)
Will-O-Wisp
Woodmen of the World
Women of Wrestling
Women On Wheels (motorcyclist organization)
Windows on Windows
Wider Opportunities for Women
Website of the Week
Wish Only Well
What's on Where
Wonderful Outdoor World
World Ocean Watch
World Outdoor Web
Weight on Wheels
Windows on Win32
Wonders of Our World
Windows Order Writer
Worship of Wicca

and many more:

http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?acronym=WOW&String=exact&page=2
http://www.acronyma.com/search.jsp?query=WOW&language=en&st=a&btnG=Searc

[Shine]

76. You are sooooo awesome!

Cool! I like the Worship of Wicca one. :thumbsup: That's right up my ally....

WOW.

I suppose I could've "googled" "WOW", but getting all these creative responses and learning new things is half the fun! Thanks for sharing what you found, Will Robinson.
:yourock:

[elshiva]

66. Women Opposing War

Woman Of Wonder

[In_The_Wind]

68. I like that!

:thumbsup:

[Shine]

78. Yup, and since we're both highly skilled at multi-tasking.....

we can be BOTH Women Opposing War AND Women Of Wonder at the same damn time!!

Yeah, baby. Uh-huh, uh-huh.

We're those kinda awesome babes....
:pals:

[In_The_Wind]

81. Women Opposing War AND Women Of Wonder !!!111!!! Yeah, baby

There Ain't No Power Like The Power Of The People!

:loveya::pals:

[Shine]

77. Sounds good to me! Sign me up.

for BOTH of them...

:thumbsup:


:hi:

[Dervill Crow]

75. We-Cycle Office Wastepaper

We put our paper into WOW boxes for return to Weyerhauser for recycling. Takes care of confidentiality issues and is environmentally friendly.

Also, the women's ministry at a mega-church I was peripherally involved in had sweatshirts with WOW on them. Women of Worship or some such thing. Nutz, now that's going to drive me crazy until I find out what it stood for. :crazy:

[Shine]

79. Hey, I like that! Very clever....

We-Cycle Office Wastepaper. :thumbsup:

Sorry, Blue, to post something that's gonna drive you nuts.

Here, lighten up and have a cyber-beer, on me! :)
:beer:

Hell, I'll join ya..... :toast:

[Dervill Crow]

82. Yumm, that's just what I needed.

It was Women of Worth. It just came to be as I downed that cyber-beverage.

Thank you! The next round is on me. :toast: