A misdirected effort.
Originally referred to hunting raccoons. The raccoon would usually take to a tree, the dogs used to hunt them would on occasion be barking up the wrong tree and the hunter would lose his prey.
Davy Crockett (1833). Sketches and Eccentricities. ‘I told him…..that he reminded me of the meanest thing on God’s earth, and old coon dog barking up the wrong tree.”‘
Mar 04
Everyday, Life, Literary american, english, slang No Comments
An unpolished or inexperienced person who shows promise.
John Fletcher (1624) – A Wife for a Month
‘She is very honest, and will be hard to cut as a rough diamond.’
Mar 04
Everyday, Life american No Comments
End a dispute.
17th century, Samuel Sewall wrote: ‘Meeting with the Sachem (Indian chiefs), they came to an agreement and buried two axes in the ground, which ceremony to them is more significant and binding than all the Articles of Peace, the hatchet being the principal weapon.’
Mar 04
Computer, Technology american No Comments
a fault or defect in a computer program, system, or machine
ENIAC 1 (first computer)
An engineer trying to power the mainframe could not get enough power to run. there were about 25 technicians trying to figure out the problem, and could not.
Chuck decided to check all the vacuum tubes, and found a moth.
Looked at the supervisor, and said, ‘Hey, there’s a bug in here.’
Mar 04
Life, Oddities american No Comments
Someone of importance.
During the colonial days, you can always tell how important or rich someone is by the size of his wig.
© Weird Words 2012 
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