(1) Today’s Word of The Day in the OED: afanc, which we learn is
In Welsh mythology: an aquatic monster. Also: an otter or beaver identified as such a monster.
Maybe the Welsh otters, like their rugbymen, are particularly fierce?
(2) Yesterday’s Google doodle, in Switzerland at least, celebrated the 57th birthday of Gaston Lagaffe
I’ve heard that Gaston
is mostly unknown to the US or English, leaving many people with no reaction to the mention of the contrats de Mesmaeker
or to the interjection Rogntudju!.
This lack of enlightenment is a clear illustration of the superiority of the continental mind.
