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Invoking British privilege....British privilege invoked.
The OED has 4 citations, and yes the first is October 1959; the journalist who uses it gives a gloss. The 1961 use refers to it as a word (" Editors Grahl and Smith use ‘vexillology’ and its cognates, vexillologist, vexillological."). The final example, 1970, shows how quickly a word can fill a gap: " In 1965 the first International Congress of Vexillology was held in the Netherlands." How did we describe the study of flags before we had that word?
Carbon Caryatid (
talk) 10:26, 18 November 2016 (UTC)reply
I assume that it was considered to be a branch of heraldry. The
Flag Institute (no poncey Latin words required) was " formed out of the Flag Section of
The Heraldry Society on St George's Day, 23 April 1971".
Alansplodge (
talk) 11:14, 18 November 2016 (UTC)reply
"Smith" is
Whitney Smith, the person who seems to get the credit for the coinage, and who died only yesterday. I came across this piece of information in his article. --
Jack of Oz[pleasantries] 11:19, 18 November 2016 (UTC)reply
For visuals:
ngrams of 'vexillology,Vexillology,vexillologist,...'. ---
Sluzzelintalk 11:41, 18 November 2016 (UTC)reply
Jack, I'm a little surprised you didn't make some word play about this vexing you. You feeling alright?
Matt Deres (
talk) 15:35, 19 November 2016 (UTC) reply
Well, I'm as surprised by this outcome as I am about "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" making its debut in The Godfather. Thanks, omnes. --
Jack of Oz[pleasantries] 23:09, 20 November 2016 (UTC)reply
Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the
current reference desk pages.
Invoking British privilege....British privilege invoked.
The OED has 4 citations, and yes the first is October 1959; the journalist who uses it gives a gloss. The 1961 use refers to it as a word (" Editors Grahl and Smith use ‘vexillology’ and its cognates, vexillologist, vexillological."). The final example, 1970, shows how quickly a word can fill a gap: " In 1965 the first International Congress of Vexillology was held in the Netherlands." How did we describe the study of flags before we had that word?
Carbon Caryatid (
talk) 10:26, 18 November 2016 (UTC)reply
I assume that it was considered to be a branch of heraldry. The
Flag Institute (no poncey Latin words required) was " formed out of the Flag Section of
The Heraldry Society on St George's Day, 23 April 1971".
Alansplodge (
talk) 11:14, 18 November 2016 (UTC)reply
"Smith" is
Whitney Smith, the person who seems to get the credit for the coinage, and who died only yesterday. I came across this piece of information in his article. --
Jack of Oz[pleasantries] 11:19, 18 November 2016 (UTC)reply
For visuals:
ngrams of 'vexillology,Vexillology,vexillologist,...'. ---
Sluzzelintalk 11:41, 18 November 2016 (UTC)reply
Jack, I'm a little surprised you didn't make some word play about this vexing you. You feeling alright?
Matt Deres (
talk) 15:35, 19 November 2016 (UTC) reply
Well, I'm as surprised by this outcome as I am about "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" making its debut in The Godfather. Thanks, omnes. --
Jack of Oz[pleasantries] 23:09, 20 November 2016 (UTC)reply