it's a contraction of "that" and "darn" used by dusty cowboys on the dusty cow trail. as in "tharn steer's gone funny, slim; best strap 'em on toppa t'others."
cowboys use only so many syllables as is strictly necessary, communicating mostly via harmonica.
I assume you are speaking of the archaic Frankish term, which refers to a small, spiny-backed rodent that lives in wooded areas in Western Europe. The greater Tharn, or Tharnus Rex, can be found in the vast arboreal forests of North America, though it is doubtful the two species are closely related.
An interesting fact about the Tharn - its sharp spines were often used to decorate the wedding headdresses of Celtic brides, which led to the phrase - "Touch not the Tharn, but a glove".
Does anyone remember Issac Mizrahi's riff on "yaren't" and "gerna" in his doc, Unzipped? He talked about Bette Davis' accent in the movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. She'd address her sister (played by Joan Crawford) and say, "YARN'T EVER GETTIN OUTTA THAT CHAIR, BLANCHE. AND YARN'T EVER GONNA LEAVE IT." Then the "gerna"was something his sewing teacher would say. Then he'd say, "YARN'T EVER GERRRNA..." you get the idea.
40 comments:
From Watership Down tharn? Deer-in-the-headlights?
Or, the until recently unknown to me Tharn ?
I do not know.
I remember it from reading W.D. some thirty years ago.
Also the rabbit's counting system: one, two, three, many. It's the one I use to this day.
Tharn is a fictional planet in the 30th century DC Universe.
After the destruction of Zerox, most of the survivors (mostly sorcerers) resettled on Tharn.
:)
Shivers
It's from Watership Down, and that usage is referred to by Stephen King in the Stand - when Stu first encounters the Walkin' Dude.
I am not familiar with the DC universe usage.
I guess you want a representative sample.
I had forgotten at first, but remembered when I saw the Watership Down reference. Damn Hrududus and all that.
I'm 23 and male if that helps, although I'm probably the only person in my circle that would recognize the term.
Hooray Watership Down!
[raises battered copy of Watership Down]
Richard Adams.
Not a clue.
The DC Tharn, the Marvel Tharn, or the lapine adjective?
OK, I admit I had to look those up, but I am a huge Watership Down fan, and do occasionally swear in lapine.
had to look it up. never read W.D.
//English major
I have two rabbits and am a huge W.D. fan. I've seen "tharn" live and in person!
silly people.
it's a contraction of "that" and "darn" used by dusty cowboys on the dusty cow trail. as in "tharn steer's gone funny, slim; best strap 'em on toppa t'others."
cowboys use only so many syllables as is strictly necessary, communicating mostly via harmonica.
Right, YL, as in "them tharn hills"
Otherwise, my cultural temp is so low on this one, I am a corpse . . though I did read "The Girl in a Swing." Good ghost story!
That is when a rabbit gets post-traumatic stress disorder, right?
A "tharn" is what jabs a someone from New Hampshire while that person is pruning roses.
"Tharn" is the past conditional participle of the verb "to throw."
"Tharn" is what you warp a thoom with, to make thloth.
I'm pretty sure Tharn Wooli was Hober Malow's second-in-command in Asimov's Foundation novels.
Weren't tharns the large birdish mounts in John Norman's S&M fantasy "Gor" books?
Tharn: To be frigtened stiff..Deer in headlights. :)
Example: What I would do if I ever met one John Hodgman. I'd become tharn.
Tharn there whippersnappers?
Ok, I have no idea.
That + there + one
As in:
"Which rabbit would you like me to skin for you?"
"Tharn with the floppy ears"
I still use that word from time to time to describe my students. No one else gets it, but I do. And it makes me happy.
I would've assumed it some type of pirate and/or cowboy slang. Or a sea chanty.
I failed.
The host of The Sound of Young America, Jesse Tharn?
Sorry, no.
I'm insulted that you would even ask me that.
I certainly didn't know the DC Comics reference.
I was thinking it sounded vaguely Hillbilly, but I don't know where it would be used, so I'm doubting such a context exists.
I had no idea. But now I know, and I will do my best to avoid going tharn for the rest of my life. It sounds miserable.
Nope. Just to join the nope-crowd. (If I ask what is 'Watership Down', I think you'll get the idea)
Until now, I did not know that word. It's been over a decade since I last read Watership Down and I have never gotten into comic books.
I assume you are speaking of the archaic Frankish term, which refers to a small, spiny-backed rodent that lives in wooded areas in Western Europe. The greater Tharn, or Tharnus Rex, can be found in the vast arboreal forests of North America, though it is doubtful the two species are closely related.
An interesting fact about the Tharn - its sharp spines were often used to decorate the wedding headdresses of Celtic brides, which led to the phrase - "Touch not the Tharn, but a glove".
In educare, erratica.
I do, now, because of your blog. And yes, this means YOU KILLED YOUR OWN CAT.
I'd blocked out Watership as it's been more than a couple decades since I read/saw it.
My guess was a yarn/thread hybrid. Something with the comfort and fashion of yarn but with the tensile strength and portability of thread.
I need to get out more.
-1 people know what "tharn" means.
Also, in certain regions of the Deep South, "tharn"--with a soft th--is a word used to indicate plural possession of a singular noun.
For instance--
Q: Whose youngun (child) is that?
A: (pointing to parents) Tharn.
Tharn--with a hard th--is, of course, something that one might literally or figuratively have in one's side.
Great meeting you tonight, Hodg-man! Hope to see you around!
I just wanted to be 38.
i didn't know there was going to be a quiz.... damn.
Does anyone remember Issac Mizrahi's riff on "yaren't" and "gerna" in his doc, Unzipped? He talked about Bette Davis' accent in the movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. She'd address her sister (played by Joan Crawford) and say, "YARN'T EVER GETTIN OUTTA THAT CHAIR, BLANCHE. AND YARN'T EVER GONNA LEAVE IT." Then the "gerna"was something his sewing teacher would say. Then he'd say, "YARN'T EVER GERRRNA..." you get the idea.
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