Re: Electrocution

On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:13:32 +0100 (BST), ke10@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

In article <h4n7n3$1b2$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Don Phillipson <e925@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

You may find that most Americans use the noun
electrocution to mean death by electric shock, while
many Britons use the verb electrocute to mean suffering
a significant shock, not necessarily fatal.

Really? I have never heard it used to mean other than a fatal shock.

(Of course, "you may find" allows for the possibility that you may not.)

From _The Independent_ (UK newspaper):
http://tinyurl.com/mhga8c

As the Who prepare to headline Glastonbury next Sunday, Pete
Townshend's daughter Emma looks back on her extraordinary childhood
in the shadow of one of the world's greatest rock'n'roll bands -
starting with the day she went to Woodstock in a carry-cot
Sunday, 17 June 2007
....
....
However the Grateful Dead had been mildly electrocuted every time
they touched their guitars, which nobody took as a good sign.
....
....

And from a UK "celebrity" website:
http://www.holymoly.com/page/RandomDetail/0,,12643~1563061,00.html

19/02/2009 - 01:00 By chrisns

Which extremely popular TV presenter is well known by the whores of
Soho because of his penchant for "mild electrocution" of the
nipples?

The brash twat is known to them by his nickname - "The Jumpstarter"

Twisted Jumpstarter etc...

--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Human Electrocution: How is the resistance not ridiculously high?
    ... it registers the resistance to be approximately 2 ... Skin being just a little on the moist side - due to body chemistry, ... You could get such a shock if sweaty or otherwise wet. ... Keep in mind that electrocution can get unreliable. ...
    (sci.electronics.basics)
  • Re: Electrocution
    ... electrocution to mean death by electric shock, ... many Britons use the verb electrocute to mean suffering ... a significant shock, not necessarily fatal. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Electrocution
    ... a significant shock, not necessarily fatal. ... In fact, I had to reeducate my offspring, who had learned it from their mother, who experienced what she called an electrocution and lived to tell the story. ... It was a rather painful experience, ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Electrocution
    ... electrocution to mean death by electric shock, ... many Britons use the verb electrocute to mean suffering ... a significant shock, not necessarily fatal. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
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