英语词汇rule of thumb的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

rule of thumb. There are two good choices here. Brewmasters of old often tested the temperature of a batch of beer by dipping a thumb in the brew, their long experience telling them how well the beer was brewing. One theory has it that our expres- sion for a rough, guesswork estimate derives from this practice. More likely it stems from the ancient use of the last joint of the thumb as a measuring device for roughly one inch. I can find no proof for the common claim that the term rule of thumb re- lates to wife beating, specifically that it was originally a rule permitting a husband to beat his wife with a stick no wider than his thumb. The OED’s first reference to the phrase is from 1692 and refers to an artless fencer. The other nine or so refer- ences also have no relation to wife beating or any assault upon anyone. See as well Cecil Adams’s discussion of the term at www.straightdope.com.

词汇	rule of thumb
词源	rule of thumb. There are two good choices here. Brewmasters of old often tested the temperature of a batch of beer by dipping a thumb in the brew, their long experience telling them how well the beer was brewing. One theory has it that our expres- sion for a rough, guesswork estimate derives from this practice. More likely it stems from the ancient use of the last joint of the thumb as a measuring device for roughly one inch. I can find no proof for the common claim that the term rule of thumb re- lates to wife beating, specifically that it was originally a rule permitting a husband to beat his wife with a stick no wider than his thumb. The OED’s first reference to the phrase is from 1692 and refers to an artless fencer. The other nine or so refer- ences also have no relation to wife beating or any assault upon anyone. See as well Cecil Adams’s discussion of the term at www.straightdope.com.
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