I believe your answer to my query "whats the origin of the phrase “one fell swoop” is in error. The term relates to the sport of Falconry in old England. When a Falcon was released he would swoop down a “fell” to capture his prey. “Fell” is defined in the OED as a hill. The term meant that the Falcon was succesful in one flite, one swoop.
Skip/
Is this the query you’re referring to? What’s the origin of “one fell swoop”.
From October 1999? It’s the only one I found, but I suppose it’s possible Cecil or one of the staff members has drafted a revised article that I don’t yet see (I know some people receive the articles before they’re “published”)
If you already knew the answer you wanted, why did you ask the question?
Today’s dictionary is not necessarily the best tool for discerning the meaning of yesterday’s words, having said that, here’s what www.dictionary.com has on the subject:
Your falconry theory; have you any evidence that this is correct, or is that just wild speculation on your part?; do falconers commonly stand atop a hil to release their birds?
Oh and is that the only definition of ‘fell’ in the OED? (somehow I doubt it will be).
I’m not sure he’s saying the Falconer need be atop a hill, just that the bird follows the undulations of the land in making his attack. …‘Kes’…they don’t make 'em like that anymore…<sigh>
IAC taking fell to mean hill in the phrase makes no sense at all; taking it to mean terrible does; consider:
it was destroyed in one hill swoop
it was destroyed in one mountain swoop
is complete nonsense, whereas:
it was destroyed in one terrible swoop
it was destroyed in one fierce swoop
makes sense.
Not to mention that a falcon typically stoops almost vertically from above the prey, rather than swooping down a hillside.
well, I wasnt sure and the OED didnt help: so, I lost a 25 cent bet. My grandmother used that phrase as well. More research is needed. A Falcon does swoop down a hill. Not stoop down a hill. People who hunt with Falcons do stand on the top of a hill over open fields; where the hunting is best. There are several other definitions for fell in the OED.
I will continuing looking.
Thanks for the response(s).
Skip/
Personally, I like one swell foop better.
…::d&r::…
This thread should be in the “Comments on Staff Reports” forum, so I shall move it there.
More research is indeed needed; where did you get the idea about the fell=hill (in the context of this phrase)?
Wrong, it is called a stoop - often a near-vertical dive, sometime a ‘power dive’ (i.e. not just dropping like a stone but deliberately flying downwards) and hills appear to have little to do with it.
here:
and here:
**Indeed there are; here’s one of them:
fell
adjective (poet or rhet) fierce, ruthless, terrible, destructive; at one ~ swoop, in a single deadly action [ME, f. OF fel Rom.**fel(l)o FELON]
There’s obviously some reason why you are reluctant to accept the dictionary definition; but you haven’t explained what that reason is, please do.
skip. Since your profile indicates that you are a corporate executive, I hope your decision making powers in your business are sharper than you have demonstrated so far in this thread.
AS Mangetout asks, “any specific evidence backing up your theory?”
Not trying to be mean, but the serious people here provide cites, evidence. All we ask is that you provide some evidence as convincing.
The fact that a hill was called a fell and that a falcon can swoop down a hill (fell) is interesting, but does not (ipso facto) mean that’s the origin of the phrase “one fell swoop.”
A child is called a kid and a child’s gloves are smaller than an adults, but that’s NOT the origin of “handle with kid gloves.”
A tantrum is called a fit and a violin can be used to play tempestuous music, but that’s NOT the origin of “fit as a fiddle.”
I could go on, but…