[Dixielandjazz] FW: ramble: Dictionary.com Word of the Day

[Ed Danielson]

Didn’t he, though? (Rhetorical question.)

 
From: Doctor Dictionary
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 1:00 AM
To: Danielson, Ed
Subject: ramble: Dictionary.com Word of the Day
 
Word of the Day for Sunday, December 28, 2008

ramble \RAM-buhl\, verb, noun:
1. to wander about
2. a walk for pleasure without predetermined destination
3. to talk or write about one thing and then another without useful connection
 
As you ramble along them, it is difficult not to feel something of a peeping-tom; this is Surrey at its most intimate, with arches over garden gates framing views of tile-hanging and leaded lights.
-- Clive Aslet, Telegraph.co.uk, 11/17/2008
 
Pierce and Carmen were on a northward walk markedly better organized than our own: having rambled throughout Europe, they had entrusted a local company to plan their trip.
-- Gregory Dicum, New York Times, 2/3/2008
 
c 1443, unknown origin, perhaps frequentative of romen "to walk, go" of via romblen "to ramble." The vowel change was probably influenced by Middle Dutch rammelen, a derivative of rammen "used of the night wanderings of the amorous cat."