Rheumatoid Arthritis And Lycanthropy

The meaning of the term "caucus"

In the U.S. the word "caucus" (pronounced ô k kәs, "cocus") means closed political meeting, typically between representatives and / or members of the same party. The etymological origins of the term are unclear. We know for a fact that was already in general use in Boston before 1780. William Gordon, in his history of the independence of the United States, written in 1788, used the word in reference to some caucus meetings between influential people of 1720 years. The meetings involved a dozen defendants, with the purpose of planning the introduction certain people in positions of trust and power.

According to experts, the hypotheses that could explain the origin of the word caucus are mainly three. Could come from caulker's , which means "the shipwright, the worker who ing cracks in the ship ( means caulk seal with a waterproof substance), or from Medieval Latin caucus in turn from the greek kaukus , kaukion , which means cup, drinking vessel, or dall'algonchiano caucauasu , counselor.

The first hypothesis is suggested by the shipwrights were holding meetings in Boston in the 1770s to protest against the action of British troops.

Any Latin origin has a more complex explanation. Colonial era were born the first informal political club, particularly in New England. They were natural extensions of forms of friendly camaraderie among colleagues and people who shared the same type of job or interest. In Boston one of these clubs began the regular practice of declaring which candidate will support a variety of local offices. It was called "Caucasus Clubb" the future president John Adams in a diary in 1763. Adams relates some details on the meetings of this club, according to information gathered from colleagues and acquaintances. The club met influential people, which allows choosing a moderator, voting on various issues, select Office regents, assessors, tax collectors and various representatives, before they were officially chosen in the city. The meetings of these clubs exercise significant influence. With their anticipated decisions of officers made the appointments to positions in the city. In the meeting the smoked heavily and often drank to the health of each a hot drink of liquor, beer and sugar, called "flip". This practice may explain the origin of the Latin word caucus, which means, of course, drinking vessel, but extensive research show that in that time the Latin word was not even familiar to educated people.

The etymology is more likely that instead algonchiana. Algonchiane languages \u200b\u200bare languages \u200b\u200bthat share a number of similarities that suggest a single root, spoken by many tribes of Native Americans. One such tribe the Algonquins, native to the area around Montreal and the Ottawa River. Algonchiana the possible origin of the word caucus is to be found in the word "kaw-kaw-was" among the Algonquins that means the one who gives advice, suggestions, encouragement. It comes from a verb meaning primarily "talk to", and then give advice, suggest, promote action. An indirect support for this hypothesis comes from the fact that even the English word "pow-wow," used to mean meeting, meeting, discussion, algonchiane origins, namely from "powwaw, sorcerer, or even magical ceremony, from" Pawe- wa, "which means" he dreams ", one who derives his power from the visions, divinations.

Britain the word caucus imported from the United States around 1870, but with a different meaning, ie the system of party organization governed, or "political machine ".