bonniebroad

Well, I'm not totally outta here, am I? What you guys are giving is YOUR definition of a mistress, and that's fine........... And several of you agree on YOUR definitions. I'm just saying that's not the official definition.... I googled several dictionaries for definitions, and the official one is as I've stated previously!

cigalechanta

The American Heritage ssays: ëspecially one who receives financial support from the man. I've known several and everyone who who they were because of the men who "kept"them. I think a male slut could be called a roué. But I'd rather have a fig in Provence than this thread. glad to returned, Bbonnie.

nocinonut

I would rather be in Provence eating figs at my chateau while being kept by my paramour.

bonniebroad

You are right, Cigale.......... AH does say that, the first one I've seen....... Actually, that is how I think of a mistress, but most of the dictionaries do not add that. Thanks.....

capo

I was wondering if there was, perhaps, a connection between gigolo and gig (as in an entertainer's engagement) and there could be since M-W says, for &quot;gig&quot;: &quot;<i>origin unknown: a job usually for a specified time; especially: an engagement</i>&quot;

And nocinonut, you've reminded me... how did the French get &quot;castle&quot; from &quot;cat water&quot;?

nocinonut

Good question, Capo. Do you know?

Maybe something to do with a moat? I am reaching here.

cigalechanta

you're close Capo! It's from the French, gigolette, dance hall pick-up.
Did I ever tell you that I think you look like the actor Peter Gallagher???

SeaUrchin

Cigalechanta, I agree, he does look like Peter Gallagher!

Do you get that often, Capo? BTW what are you the capo of?

cigalechanta

I think he said once his name is taken from the Italian meaning of the musical strings, or the piece on a guitar that holds the strings, CAPO???

capo

Do I get that often? I think, with the addition of the two of you, I've now gotten it about four times. Which is four times more than I've been approached by a female version of a gigolo.

I didn't know that &quot;capo&quot; (the thingamajig which is placed over the strings of a guitar to raise the pitch) came from a longer word until I looked it up a few years ago, after adopting it as nickname. &quot;Capo&quot;, of course, is Italian for &quot;head&quot; and the longer word it comes from is the Italian <i>capotasto</i>, which is, literally, &quot;head of fingerboard&gt;.&quot; That's a bit odd, since a capo can be placed anywhere on the fingerboard, not just on the head but since it's typically placed <i>toward</i> the head, I suppose that's how the name came about. (What's also interesting, for you non-guitarists out there, is that it's pronounced with a long a sound, rather than the short a sound you'd find in Italian.)

Here's a &quot;Guitarist's Glossary of Musical Terms&quot;, many of them, of course, Italian, like <i>agitato</i> as in &quot;When I can't find any gelati, I get agitato.&quot;

http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/frary/glossary.htm

SeaUrchin

Oh, I was expecting to see him on the Fodorite version of The Sopranos.

elle

Hmmm, I always thought it was short for <i>capogiro</i> .

Dayenu

This is a very interesting, educational discussion!

StCirq

It's also 8 years old.

Clifton

<i>8 years old</i>

A little young for this kind of talk. Top it again in about 10 years