On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:12:00 GMT, "John Briggs"
<john.briggs4@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>Ildhund wrote:
>> Does anyone know the origin of this expression? Is it biblical or
>> classical?
>
>Classical.
>
> I have a notion that the Corinthian/Commoners dichotomy is
>> analogous to Gentlemen/Players, the Corinthians being successors to
>> Dandies and similar high- (and loose-) living young gentlemen of
>> means. Does it pre-date the formation of the Corinthians football
>> club in 1882?
>
>You have curious notions.
As does the OED (most quotations snipt):
A. adj.
3. 'Relating to the licentious manners of Corinth' (J.),
profligate; in 19th c. use: Given to elegant dissipation.
4. (U.S.) Yachting. Amateur.
1885 Harper's Mag. June 83/1 On the yacht of a friend who
was fond of sailing Corinthian races.
B. n.
2. (From the proverbial wealth, luxury, and licentiousness
of ancient Corinth):
{dag}a. A wealthy man; a
profligate idler; a gay, licentious man; also, a
shameless or 'brazen-faced' fellow (cf. A. 1c). Obs.
b. A 'swell'; a man of fa****on about town.
'In the third decade of the present century the word,
both as a substantive and an adjective, was at the
height of its popularity' (Latham).
1819 MOORE Tom Crib's Mem. 9 (Farmer) 'Twas diverting
to see, as one ogled around, How Corinthians and
Commoners mixed on the ground.
c. A wealthy amateur of s****t who rides his own horses,
steers his own yacht, etc.; esp. in U.S. an amateur
yachtsman.
Hence Co{sm}rinthianism.
> It relates to the ideal of amateur s****t -
>associated with Greece, for some reason, cf Olympic Games.
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in uk.culture.language.english)
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