Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Vocabulary terms you have learned from listening to Gord...

Don Quixote · 08-17-2008, 09:31 PM

Just a short one, g-man. A "prima donna" (literally a "first lady") is taken from Italian opera, the leading lady soprano role in the production. As they had a reputation for being high-strung and more than a little demanding, the term expanded, even being used sometimes for males (like a ballplayer being called a prima donna). All interesting stuff; I haven't had much time for Corfid these days, but I've been checking in to see what's happening (including some of Geo-Steve's other topics). I think, as far as this topic, only "navvy" and the term "stemming gold" were things that I hadn't heard of outside of Gord's songs, as far as what's been mentioned.

Keep up the good work, everyone, and I'll keep swooping in occasionally.

Best,
DQ

08-17-2008, 09:31 PM	#32
Don Quixote Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Springfield, MA 01109 Posts: 309	Re: Vocabulary terms you have learned from listening to Gord... Just a short one, g-man. A "prima donna" (literally a "first lady") is taken from Italian opera, the leading lady soprano role in the production. As they had a reputation for being high-strung and more than a little demanding, the term expanded, even being used sometimes for males (like a ballplayer being called a prima donna). All interesting stuff; I haven't had much time for Corfid these days, but I've been checking in to see what's happening (including some of Geo-Steve's other topics). I think, as far as this topic, only "navvy" and the term "stemming gold" were things that I hadn't heard of outside of Gord's songs, as far as what's been mentioned. Keep up the good work, everyone, and I'll keep swooping in occasionally. Best, DQ