Ha-ha
Filed under Dictionaries and Lexicography • (5) Comments • Permalink
Friday, March 17, 2006
According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, a ha-ha is “a ditch with a wall on its inner side below ground level, forming a boundary to a park or garden without interrupting the view.” I did not know that.
That’s derived from a French expression of surprised annoyance at an obstacle in one’s path. The same expression serves as the basis for one of my favorite toponyms: the bay in Quebec called “La Baie des Ha! Ha!” (and the town on the bay called “Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!"). It’s said that French explorers navigating the Saguenay River reached a cul-de-sac at the bay and had to turn around.
Posted by Ben Zimmer on 03/17 at 11:48 PM
‘The Ha-Ha’ is also the title of a damn fine book by, ‘Dave King.’ (http://www.davekingwriter.com/) Read it, love it, share it!
Posted by Mac on 03/18 at 12:01 AM
I did! Ha ha!
(How come your comment system doesn’t remember my info after I specifically ask it to?)
Posted by language hat on 03/22 at 06:44 PM
Dunno why it doesn’t put the cookie where it belongs. It’s on my (long, long) list of things to look into.
Posted by Grant Barrett on 03/22 at 06:51 PM
The complaints department is open! The comment system now remembers info when you comment.
Posted by Grant Barrett on 03/22 at 08:05 PM
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