Concept of identity peculiar to those from England. We like to think that this means we are more intelligent, reserved and cultured than the rest of the world. However, we probably come across as purely cold and arrogant. Americans generally stereotype us as butlers or as "tally-ho, old bean" types. The French think we are utterly without civilisation, the Italians think we have no romance or passion in our lives, the Scots hate us and the Irish hate us even more. Despite such hostility, we have had the luck to be born in a place teeming with history and traditions of literature, art, music and creativity. Liberal Englishmen and women attempt to forget about our oppression during the days of the British Empire, whereas the more conservative right-wingers look back on those days as when we had power and therefore think it good. In short, Englishness is probably best summed up in one word: irony.

A technique used in the game of billiards (pool, snooker, etc.) whereby the cue ball is struck at such an angle as to propel it towards the target with a reverse spin. This creates a rotational effect that may appear counter to the player's intended goal, but when skillfully executed the use of this simple principle of physics makes seemingly impossible shots a reality. Three of the most common uses of "English" are: 1) to avoid hitting other balls between the cue ball and the desired target, 2) to control the direction and/or speed of the cue ball, and 3) to assure better resting position of the cue ball for the next shot after the initial shot has been taken.

'English' is the not-so-affectionate name that Auda Abu Tayi of the Haritat tribe calls Lawrence of Arabia. The rest of the Arabs who follow Lawrence, including Sherif Ali of the Harif tribe, call him simply 'Arentz.'

engine = E = enhancement

English

1. n. obs. The source code for a program, which may be in any language, as opposed to the linkable or executable binary produced from it by a compiler. The idea behind the term is that to a real hacker, a program written in his favorite programming language is at least as readable as English. Usage: mostly by old-time hackers, though recognizable in context. Today the preferred shorthand is simply source. 2. The official name of the database language used by the old Pick Operating System, actually a sort of crufty, brain-damaged SQL with delusions of grandeur. The name permitted marketroids to say "Yes, and you can program our computers in English!" to ignorant suits without quite running afoul of the truth-in-advertising laws.

--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.

An English:

After the Japanese, the English are held to be the greatest sexual perverts on earth. (I am not English).

'An English' has a special meaning in a Brothel or Bawdy House. It means a spanking.

'A Japanese' can be extremely dangerous, if done incorrectly or in the wrong hands (this means YOU), and is a tying up. (I got some flak about this so note that: It is the single largest form of accidental death amoung men in the UK.)

Eng"lish (?), a. [AS. Englisc, fr. Engle, Angle, Engles, Angles, a tribe of Germans from the southeast of Sleswick, in Denmark, who settled in Britain and gave it the name of England. Cf. Anglican.]

Of or pertaining to England, or to its inhabitants, or to the present so-called Anglo-Saxon race.

English bond Arch.

See 1st Bond, n., 8. -- English breakfast tea. See Congou. -- English horn. Mus. See Corno Inglese. -- English walnut. Bot. See under Walnut.

 

© Webster 1913.


Eng"lish, n.

1.

Collectively, the people of England; English people or persons.

2.

The language of England or of the English nation, and of their descendants in America, India, and other countries.

The English language has been variously divided into periods by different writers. In the division most commonly recognized, the first period dates from about 450 to 1150. This is the period of full inflection, and is called Anglo-Saxon, or, by many recent writers, Old English. The second period dates from about 1150 to 1550 (or, if four periods be recognized, from about 1150 to 1350), and is called Early English, Middle English, or more commonly (as in the usage of this book), Old English. During this period most of the inflections were dropped, and there was a great addition of French words to the language. The third period extends from about 1350 to 1550, and is Middle English. During this period orthography became comparatively fixed. The last period, from about 1550, is called Modern English.

3.

A kind of printing type, in size between Pica and Great Primer. See Type.

The type called English.

4. Billiards

A twist or spinning motion given to a ball in striking it that influences the direction it will take after touching a cushion or another ball.

The King's, or Queen's, English. See under King.

 

© Webster 1913.


Eng"lish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Englished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Englishing.]

1.

To translate into the English language; to Anglicize; hence, to interpret; to explain.

Those gracious acts . . . may be Englished more properly, acts of fear and dissimulation. Milton.

Caxton does not care to alter the French forms and words in the book which he was Englishing. T. L. K. Oliphant.

2. Billiards

To strike (the cue ball) in such a manner as to give it in addition to its forward motion a spinning motion, that influences its direction after impact on another ball or the cushion.

[U.S.]

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.