Saturday, June 08, 2019

What does that mean?

About this expression:
Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil?
Did the 16th century offer Shakespeare any examples of a spring-driven mechanical man, the word "spring" being a synonym for "coil"?

But how would one shuffle off a spring?

(. . . later . . .)

I finally found this explanation: Link.

The true answer, provided at the link, has nothing to do with my speculations about a mechanical man.

Labels:

6 Comments:

At 10:34 AM, Blogger Kevin Kim said...

Very interesting. I got it into my head that a "coil" was an archaic term for a chain, perhaps wound 'round the soul.

 
At 2:41 PM, Blogger Horace Jeffery Hodges said...

I'm trying to understand everything I learned when I was younger.

Jeffery Hodges

* * *

 
At 2:47 AM, Blogger Carter Kaplan said...

I think of intestines and veins worming--coiling--around our souls. Something like that.

Assuming it is necessary to understand at a denotative, or even a scientific, level. After all, it is Shakespeare. It sounds good.

 
At 8:46 AM, Blogger Horace Jeffery Hodges said...

Actually, Shakespeare was quoting me . . .

Jeffery Hodges

* * *

 
At 10:45 AM, Blogger Carter Kaplan said...

Was he quoting from an MLA approved edition, or from your variorum?

 
At 2:42 PM, Blogger Horace Jeffery Hodges said...

The man's words forever come back to haunt him . . .

Jeffery Hodges

* * *

 

Post a Comment

<< Home