Meaning "something poor or mediocre, a failure" is by 1936 in U.S. slang. From late 14c. as the name for a heavy metal clamp of some kind.Dog's age"a long time" is by 1836. Adjectival phrasedog-eat-dog"ruthlessly competitive" is by 1850s. Phraseput on the dog"get dressed up"...
I was thinking that this would develop more readly in an isolating language, with little or no pre-existing semantic load on variation of the verb. Wikipedia kindly confirms this for Wolof. But what about inherited Niger-Congo traits that might have prevented it? Did the branch that would eve...
"thin, poor beverage (especially weak tea)," 1785; see cat (n.) + lap (v.1). The notion… See origin and meaning of cat-lap.
I started Early — Took my Dog — I taste a liquor never brewed It was not Death, for I stood up I—Years—had been—from Home— Like Rain it sounded till it curved Much Madness is divinest Sense - My life closed twice before its close My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun...
lapdog lapel lapful lappet laptop lobe lop overlap wrap See all related words (15)> Advertisement Trends oflap Sharelap ‘cite’ https://www.etymonline.com/word/lap Etymology of lap by etymonline Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of lap. Online Etymology...