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by DanD23 on May 24th, 2006

DanD23

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What is the origin of the phrase, "12 dollar word?"

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  • by Tucson on April 28th, 2007

    Tucson

    If I may be as so bold to forward my humble opinion...

    This phrase more than likely goes back to a time when not only did gypsies, merchants, and sheppards wander from town to town but also, teachers. It was not unknown for a teacher to wander from town to town and sell or barter a lesson to the local farmers and or their children.

    More than likely, someone actually paid $12 or the hen equivlant for a word such as clepsydraKLEP-suh-druh: a water clock....

    * By the way, it's $7.59 with discount for that lesson or your second finest laying hen...*

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