blackandwhiteandcolours: "Who he was seemed actually to have slipped his mind"

Monday, June 1, 2009

"Who he was seemed actually to have slipped his mind" - Ava's Apartment by Jonathan Lethem

AB said...: I think he is playing peekaboo.; 01 June, 2009 21:17
Martina said...: Etymology: peek + boo
Date: 1599

c.1374, piken "look quickly and slyly," of unknown origin. The words peek, keek, and peep all were used with more or less the same meaning 14c.-15c.; perhaps the ultimate source was M.Du. kieken. The noun meaning "a peek, glance" is attested from 1844. Phrase peek-a-boo as a children;s game is attested from 1599; as an adj. meaning "see-through" it dates from 1895.

I am wondering what "boo" might be, can't be

"to startle," c.1430, probably because it can be pronounced as a loud, booming sound; as an expression of disapproval, 1816, perhaps imitative of oxen; hence, the verb meaning "shower someone with boos" (1893).

?; 01 June, 2009 22:21
AB said...: Martina: Yes, that is the word and that is the etymology. It is a game you play with children. You hide, or hide your face, and the child comes up to you timidly until you say "boo". Then, they run away, as this dear appears to be about to do.; 02 June, 2009 08:19
Julie said...: Love the conversation!

The saturation works here I think because of that foreground shadow. The fragility of the deer seems to be emphasised by both.

Works well for these eyes ...; 02 June, 2009 22:51
Martina said...: Julie, I am not really happy with this one. It works better in original size, but since this is the first wild deer that ever came this close to my lense I simply had to post it.; 02 June, 2009 23:00