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Even if this turns out to be false, I find it a more satisfying answer. "Big-wheel" as a source for the term seems quite colloquial, whereas "wheel-house" indi
by michrassena 8y ago
Even if this turns out to be false, I find it a more satisfying answer. "Big-wheel" as a source for the term seems quite colloquial, whereas "wheel-house" indicates a bit of underlying culture -- it's the slightly more sophisticated metaphor.
- Torwald 8y agoIt is a metaphor that related to the technical aspects, instead of adhering to a social hierarchy.
- _emacsomancer_ 8y agoWheel-house would relate, presumably, also to social hierarchies of who is allowed into the wheel-house (to pilot the ship).
- jandrese 8y agoUnfortunately the general rule with word etymology is the most sensible answer is usually wrong.
- _emacsomancer_ 8y agoSometimes they're fun though: e.g. derring-do is the result of misunderstandings and misprinting.
- _emacsomancer_ 8y agoI'm not sure so much about colloquial vs sophisticated, but "wheelhouse" feels more sensible than "big-wheel" as a source. That doesn't seem to be the received wisdom at this point though. One 'non-etymology' I regret is that Linux _isn't_ a recursive acronym for "Linux Is Not UniX".
- repsilat 8y agoFunny, I'm partial to the (patently ahistorical) idea that the song "I'm Gonna be a Wheel Someday"[1] was about the Unix group. Could always have roots (heh) in the opposite direction I guess. I'm gonna be a wheel one day I'm gonna be somebody I'm gonna be a real gone cat Then I won't want you Everything gonna go my way And I won't need nobody I'm gonna be a real gone cat Then I won't want you One wonders what it was they wanted to `cat`. 1: lyrics https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/fatsdomino/imgonnabeawheelsomeday.html https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/fatsdomino/imgonnabeawheelso...