5 ms·
I'll do one better: they weren't built clockwise, as clocks were not available. They were built reverse-widdershins or sunwise. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W
by redwall_hp 3y ago
I'll do one better: they weren't built clockwise, as clocks were not available. They were built reverse-widdershins or sunwise.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widdershins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widdershins
- headstorm 3y agoDeosil is the counterpart which means reverse-widdershins or sunwise, mentioned in your link.
- kwyjibo1230 3y agoWow, so Widdershins is not just a made-up word from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series!
- Tagbert 3y agoIt seems it goes back a little further than that. > probably from Middle Low German weddersinnes, literally "against the way" https://www.etymonline.com/word/widdershins#etymonline_v_7994 https://www.etymonline.com/word/widdershins#etymonline_v_799... Basically, this is NOT the way.
- redwall_hp 3y agoI'll admit that Discworld is the first place I heard it. It's a perfect example of the sort of idiom authors should think about though, rather than using overly modern terms.
- INTPenis 3y agoI love the word sunwise. In Swedish it's "medsols" and "motsols", sunwise and counter-sunwise respectively. And speaking of, let's start another myth. Swedes always dance around the christmas tree or maypole sunwise because it's an ancient dance to evoke the sun after months of darkness.
- kwhitefoot 3y agoI thought the pole and dance in Sweden was at midsummer. In England it's on Mayday.
- INTPenis 3y agoI call it a maypole to relate to foreigners. What would you call the pole? It's actually called a midsommarstång, which means midsummerspole...
- kwhitefoot 3y agoI see the point, it just clear to me that you were referring to midsummer. To me as an old Englishman a Maypole means the old celebration of spring on Mayday.
- gowld 3y ago'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not "clockwise". What's "clockwise"? It is nor hand, nor pen- dulum, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a clock. O, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So "Widdershins" would, were it not "Widdershins" call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Widdershins, doff thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee Take all my turns.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- zczc 3y agoAnd clock face mimics the sundial, therefore clockwise is sunwise