When I teach English to my Year One ���class of Inuit Eskimos, they are fascinated by the study of glottochronology, and particularly by the influence of Chomskeyan Semantics. �We can�t get enough of it!� they say. (Incidentally, since Moan Chomskey sold the Takeaway business, and moved into language teaching, he has made LOADS of money!)

Do you know the full significance of the Eskimo word, �IGLOO�?
It is, of course, a house made from blocks of ice.
The IG is the large room at the front, and the LOO is the little room at the back!

But, I digress!

The word MOLLYCODDLE is, of course, of French origin.

Moll y coddle

Those of us who have studied French in great detail, know that, �coddle� is the diminutive of �coup�. But, no language expert can explain WHY. My own theory is, that the LangueDoc, (medical language), was greatly affected by the Mistral Blanc, (the masterly blank), the unknown factor in every language. �Coup d�oeil�, (a small cup of oil), is an obvious medical example.

In the same way, in English, �waddle� = �small steps�, due to the size of your bank balance; �toddle� very small steps, on your own; �straddle� = �a small violin�; �peddle� = �small feet�; �piddle� = � well, you get the general idea.

The French are particularly fond of the word �coup�, which they pronounce /coo/. For example, �Coup de grace�, /coo de grass/ is obvious to those of agricultural background; �Coup de revolver� is when you are caught in a small revolving door; �Coup fatal� was the description of the small, fat gangster, Al Capone; �Un mauvais coup� is a small cup of awful coffee; �R�ussir un beau coup� means to re-use a beautiful little cup; etcetera; etcetera; etcetera.

Moll y coddle = Moll y coup

�A moll� is an American gangster�s girl-friend. �Y� is the French word, representing a person, a thing, a place.

The expression is simplicity itself!

�That girl is a little knockout!�

Les Douglas