Learned from Limericks

Taking inspiration from Steve over at The Sneeze, I've decided to have a go at creating what we at SSA hope will be only the first in a recurring series of posts, aimed at sharing knowledge which can only be gleamed from exploring man's greatest creation, The Internet. This series is titled: Learned It From Limericks.

I discovered the Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form (OEDILF) while tracking down the definition of an aptonym. Turns out an aptonym, or what the Romans also called nomen et omen, or "prophetic name", is a term used for a person's handle that also happens to correspond with their profession, i.e. the custodian named Joe Dirt, the ornithologitst Bill Bird and my friend's dog, Mr. Barksalot.

OEDILF: Not to be confused with the expression "Oh DILF!" (where the "D" stands for Drew)

OEDILF, however, and as the true title suggests, chooses to illuminate the mind with the illustrative power of Limerick. For aptonym, OEDILF offers the following entries, all user-submitted:

aptronym, aptonym by BobHale

In aptronyms, names really fit:

For example, the dentist named Bitt,

Or the baker named Bunn,

Or the sniper called Gunn,

But not quite the sewerman, Schmidt.

also...

Best, Pete, aptonym, aptronym by Chris J. Strolin

An aptonym, Ringo had guessed,

Was a name where one's job is addressed.

Had this been the case

For the guy he'd replace,

You'd have known him as Pete Second-Best.

Pete Best (b. 1941), unfortunate recipient of one history's great shaftings, was the drummer for the Beatles just before that group's popularity went through the roof.

So there you have it. Another major crisis averted thanks to the awesome powers of Limericks. I'll be sure to check in with OEDILF the next time any of those showboatin authors (yeah you Eggers and Perelman! More like Dave BoringDick and S.J. NoOneRemembersMe) try and stump me with one of their Susan B Antony-cent words. Who'll be laughing then? Me, Ben AwesomeBlog, that's who.