Round 3190: BAWHEID [Results]
Paul Keating
A close round, with the top 3 positions in the balance right to the end. Tony Abell scored 5, with a 3-way tie for runner-up: John Barrs, Alan Mallach and Dan Widdis. The real definition was #2:
Scottish colloquial. A person with a large round face; (also) a stupid person. Frequently as a term of mild abuse. [ < baw, representing a Scottish colloquial pronunciation of ball + heid, variant of head].
5 players voted for it, and John Barrs came up with the same etymology supporting a rather different definition.
For anyone wondering why I chose not to combine #2 and #4: It is true that the two offerings share an etymology, and a regional label (“Scottish”); but neither etymologies nor labels are, strictly speaking, part of the definition. Leave these nondefinition elements out of account, and consider only the definitions, and the two are quite different; and the rules talk about combining definitions that are close to one another. It is true that Roundhead was unflattering (and, for that matter, so was Cavalier) but there is a difference between a descriptive rude name for a member of an opposing political faction, and a largely content-free term of abuse.
1. Phon. A transitional sound in speech which is produced by the changing of the mouth organs from one definite position to another, and with gradual change in the most frequent cases; as in passing from the beginning to the end of a regular diphthong, or from vowel to consonant or consonant to vowel in a syllable, or from one component to the other of a double or diphthongal consonant. Also, the vanish (or brief final element) or the brief initial element, in a class of diphthongal vowels, or the brief final or initial part of some consonants.
Submitted by: Dan Widdis who voted for: 2 & 4
Votes from: Ann Druce, Efrem Mallach
Score: 2+2=4
2. Scottish colloquial. A person with a large round face; (also) a stupid person. Frequently as a term of mild abuse. [ < baw, representing a Scottish colloquial pronunciation of ball + heid, variant of head]
Real definition from OED3.
Votes from: Tony Abell, Tim Lodge, Judy Madnick, Alan Mallach, Dan Widdis
Score: D5
3. In the Middle East, a black cord, worn doubled, used to keep a ghutrah or headdress in place on the wearer's head.
Submitted by: Tim Lodge who voted for: 2 & 7
Votes from: Shani Naylor
Score: 1+2=3
4. The Scottish name for a Parliamentarian or Roundhead during the English Civil War [literally a "ball head"]
Submitted by: John Barrs who voted for: 6 & 10
Votes from: Tony Abell, Judy Madnick, Shani Naylor, Dan Widdis
Score: 4
5. A traditional variety of Persian carpet with a hand-woven pile of coarse quality, used as a sleeping rug.
Submitted by: Shani Naylor who voted for: 3 & 4
6. Any of a class of intrinsically variable stars with exceptionally regular periods of light pulsation.
Submitted by: Judy Madnick who voted for: 2 & 4
Votes from: John Barrs
Score: 1+2=3
7. Fear, trepidation; (rarely) astonishment [Old English].
Submitted by: Alan Mallach who voted for: 2 & 9
Votes from: Debbie Embler, Tim Lodge
Score: 2+2=4
8. Seal or insignia on a counterfeit document.
Submitted by: Debbie Embler who voted for: 7 & 13
9. So. Afr. honesty, candour, frankness.
Submitted by: Efrem Mallach who voted for: 1 & 10
Votes from: Alan Mallach
Score: 1
10. Germanic term for misrepresentation.
Submitted by: Ann Druce who voted for: 1 & 13
Votes from: John Barrs, Efrem Mallach, Mike Shefler
Score: 3
11. An escaped prisoner [Gael.].
Submitted by: Mike Shefler who voted for: 10 & 13
12. An ale made from heather.
Submitted by: Nancy Shepherdson who did not vote
13. Impudence.
Submitted by: Tony Abell who voted for: 2 & 4
Votes from: Ann Druce, Debbie Embler, Mike Shefler
Score: 3+2=5
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Paul Keating
Soustons, Nouvelle Aquitaine, France