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 Post subject: I learn something new every day.
PostPosted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:58 pm 
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Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 8342
Location: Bethesda, Md.
Boffins create zombie dogs

***"Boffin." Somehow I've never encountered "boffin" before.***


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 Post subject: Re: I learn something new every day.
PostPosted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:49 pm 
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Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:03 am
Posts: 1224
Location: Japan
Phillip Blanchard wrote:
Somehow I've never encountered "boffin" before.***


It sound more like something you'd see in movie credits, next to "gaffer" and "frame puller."


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 Post subject: Re: I learn something new every day.
PostPosted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 8:45 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 1:01 am
Posts: 458
Location: Heart of Global Warming
Phillip Blanchard wrote:
Somehow I've never encountered "boffin" before.***

Doubtless because of your youth and place of birth; it's been around the Commonwealth since the 1940s. It has connotations of nerdiness to it, all lab coats and glasses and expertise, but no social life.

D.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 8:48 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2003 12:01 am
Posts: 3137
Location: Homebush NSW Australia
Quite so, old bean. The word appeared extensively in feel-good World War II movies. More details at Brainy Encyclopedia.
It would be fair to say the word is slipping out of usage. It will be a sad loss.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:59 am 
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Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:01 am
Posts: 278
Location: Cambridge, England
The word is still alive and well over here, especially in those sections of the popular press who think that their readership might be confused with a (not much) more precise term such as 'scientist'.


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