Nightmare

[DarthPhilius]

What does the 'mare' in nightmare mean? I get the night (of course) but dont quite understand how the mare comes in.

[Quizmonster]

'Mare' in this sense was the name given to a goblin believed to crouch on one's chest during sleep, thus causing unpleasant dreams. It is very ancient and found also in the French word for 'nightmare' which is 'cauchemar'.

[DarthPhilius]

Thanks

[Clanad]

Only somewhat pedantic to Q's usual adroit explanation, is that the goblin thus described was usually seen as an incubus for male or succubus for female, demonic personages that could not only cause the bad dreams but could entice the dreamer into, ummm, let us say, unnatural physical relations during the night...
(Is winter winding down in your part of the world Q?...)

[Quizmonster]

Where I live on the south coast, C, we are protected by a cup of hills. As a result, I have not seen even a single snowflake for years, though areas to both east and west are regularly subject to dreadful conditions.
What really amazes and amuses me, having spent my childhood in the north-east of Scotland, where 6-foot deep snowdrifts are common, is the way English schools close down the minute there is a dusting of snow on the ground. Plus, of course, southern English car-owners have not the least notion of how to drive at such times.
I'm sure you are having things much worse in your own neck of the woods.

[emi-elektrik]

whats with the winter comments? I love it when schools close when its snowy : )
Its only fair to the children that they should get to have fun outside instead of sitting in a classroom when the boilers broke and school rules state that coats or non-school uniform jumpers are to be removed regardless of the weather conditions.
People in england cant drive in snow very well because how often does it snow in england? not often! therefore were gonna be s**tting ourselves about driving in ice.

[DarthPhilius]

Wow! The question and answers seems to have changed quite a lot! However, it is much better when us schoolkids dont have to go to school in the snow. Its fun to be outside, and its a real pain in the arse to have to wait the 1 hour requirement for your train until the school allows you to go home.

[emi-elektrik]

wow someone else here who goes to school! ive not met anyone here yet who does. they are all older. how old are you??
and you catch a train?? gutted! i have to catch the service bus...yippee...