LOVE AND DUCK. If a batsman fails to score in a cricket match, he/she is out for a `duck. If a tennis player loses a set without winning a single game, he/she loses six -love. It is possible that `love and `duck are connected not only in the meaning here, but in origin too. The idea of zero is aptly represented by an egg, whose roundish shape is reminiscent of a nought. To be bowled for a `duck in cricket is really to be bowled for a `ducks egg; and to have a score of `love in tennis perhaps to have a score of lóeuf, French for `egg. Unfortunately, it is not quite certain that `love really does come from lóeuf. A rival theory refers to the phrase for `love, used in card games since the 17th century. Instead of gambling for money, card players might decide to play for love- that is, playing just for fun without stakes, playing for nothing. If `love could mean nothing in card games, it could do the same in racket games...or??
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 09:05:23 +0000
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