Friday, 30 December 2011

No. 7.

The phrase 'pool your money' comes from a French game in which you chuck stones at a chicken.

Each player would put their money in a pile before taking turns to attempt to hit the bird. Whoever got it first won all the cash. The French for chicken is, of course, 'poulet'.

(Source: The Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth. Heard on Radio 4's Book of the Week.)

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