Who Says TV Isn't Educational?

I learned some interesting things, at least to me, the other day. I was watching the History International channel , a show about medieval life. It exposed some myths and reinforced some others. But it also revealed the origin of some common phrases.

The show was hosted by an historian. He engaged in some of the activities of medieval life in order to illustrate and, I suspect, just so he could say he did. Some things I thought were "gilded" a bit... such as showing a meal that wasn't common for the peasants of the day and concentrating on the noble's lifestyles and pastimes.

Of fascination were the weapons used and the way they were used, of course, because warfare was central to the period. He spoke of how hunting, for example, was a metaphor for warfare and also that it was informal training and preparation. One might also realize that it has been so since the beginning of mankind. As hunting is, so are games.

My learning of something interesting had to do with falconry. It turns out that more than one bird was often brought along (let's call them "back ups"). These were carried on a "cadge" and the person carrying the cadge was called a "cadger". That later became "caddy", the name for the guy who carries the bag with the extra clubs for the golfer.

A falcon was perched on the heavily gloved index finger of the falconer with the falcon wrapping its talons around the finger. The falconer would then bring his thumb against the talons, controlling the falcon, and having it "under his thumb." The falcon had a "leash" (called a creance) attached to one of his legs. That leash would thread across the palm of the falconer's hand and would be wrapped around the smallest finger of the hand. In other words, it would be "wrapped around his little finger."

I can't wait to see what I will learn on "How Sex Changed the World."