Some Keen Etymology

Post by **Ceilick** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:22

Was doing some etymology homework and thought it would be fun to investigate a few Keen words. A lot of Keen names have fairly obvious origins (bounder, blorb, lick, etc) but I found these two interesting:

Fribbulus Xax: a combination of the word Fribble, “A foolish or inconsequential person or thing” and frivolous, “not having any serious purpose or value”. Sounds like episode 6 to as a whole to me.

Vorticon: Voracious “wanting or devouring great quantities of food” (seems to be a dog/wolf like characteristic), Vorticism “artistic movement influenced by cubism and futurism”. A brief look at futurism on wikipedia reveals, “The futurists admired speed, technology, youth and violence, the car, the airplane, and the industrial city, all that represented the technological triumph of humanity over nature, and they were passionate nationalists.” Passionate nationalists, youth and violence, a futuristic industrial society; sounds like the Vorticons under Mortimer's rule.

Post by **KeenRush** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:38

Sounds reasonable, especially the second one. Why have I never heard of Vorticism?! Of course it could be just another funny coincidence, but just as well it could be Tom knew some arts and was inspired.

Post by **tulip** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 13:23

I'm pretty sure Tom was aware of the word "vore" but the art thing might be a coincidence, but a good one

Great thread, by the way I hope more examples follow.

Anoba · Post by **Anoba** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 21:08

Good work, Ceilick. You're fast becoming a Keen deity. I hope everything is going well.

Post by **Ceilick** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 22:59

I think it's a coincidence too, but its funny how those things seem to work out rather well.

Here's a few more, some more obvious than others:

Bobba: from 'bob', "make or cause to make a quick, short movement up and down". Describes their movement pretty accurately.

Babobba: the same, but the prefix 'Ba-' is likely from "Baby".

Garg: possibly from "Gargle", I've always thought dying Gargs sound like they're gargling.

Yorp: possibly from "Yip", "a short, sharp cry or yelp". Yorps make a sound like this on death. 'Yaar', "a friendly form of address". Yorps are excessively friendly.

Arachnut: from 'Arachnid', "an arthropod of the class Arachnida, which includes spiders..." and 'nut', "a crazy or eccentric person".

Berkeloid: possibly from 'Berserk'.

Commander Spleen · Post by **Commander Spleen** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:49

Berkeloid was based on someone's name, kind of an injoke--Bourke or Berkle, or something similar. Anyone got a source for this? I only remember reading about it in a thread long ago.

Garg could also borrow from 'Argh!':

"1. An exclaimation of annoyance, exasperation, or other negative factor.
2. The sound a made by a stereotypical pirate."

"the correct version of an expression of frustration or anger"

Though not a creature, Vitalin is an interesting one. Obviously based on 'vitamin' but also putting an emphasis on 'vitality'.

What of Bloog or Fleex? Those seem to be somewhat abstract.

StupidBunny · Post by **StupidBunny** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:04

"Vitalin" is probably from "vitare," which means "to live" in Latin. The -lin suffix is usually used in pharmaceuticals and some chemical compounds so that's probably where it's from. (Spleen's explanation is basically the same, but simpler

)

Omegamatic is pretty straightforward...omega, as the last letter of the Greek alphabet, is used (especially biblically) to suggest the end of something...in other words, armageddon, which is in the title of Keen 5. The -matic suffix would mean that it is a machine.

I have long thought about where the name "Berkeloid" could possibly come from. Berserk is an interesting idea, but the two words are just too different in my mind. The first thing I think of is Berkeley, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense in the context of the monster I don't think.

I imagine "Bloog" is just a random name, without any sort of interesting etymology, but "Fleex" sounds like it's from something. I'll see if I can think of anything good..."flux" and "flex" both immediately come to mind.

Post by **Ceilick** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:19

Heh, I thought fleex was kind of obvious for 'fix', as they are the Bloog's mechanics.

I think StupidBunny is right about Bloog, just some random word that sounds alien, though it could be a variation of 'boogie man'.

Post by **tulip** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:33

Well, that Berkeloid is kind of a berk. But since that word is only used in the UK as far as I know, that's propably not the point of the name.
The thing with "berkle" I read in the Community Mod page: Name for Baby Berkeloid. So that might be where Spleen remembered the word from, but I'm not familiar with the old ezboard. Spleen could also be right, because Berkle obviously is a family name if you google it.

Garg and gargle may be right, because they make that sound: "You hear in your mind: GAAARG!", and the highscore entry is "Gargile".

Fleex: could be "flee" and "ex" together, since it runs after you, and thus prevents you from fleeing.

I've got no Idea for Bloog though, they're not even blue or something.
Notable that a bloog seems to be an electronic cigarette: http://www.bloogplanet.com

Post by **Ceilick** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:54

Those actually looks kind of neat, wouldn't mind trying a bloog

ckguy · Post by **ckguy** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 13:46

"Electronic Cigarettes"??? Wtf, that's really weird. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO

Post by **KeenRush** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 16:38

Probably nothing real, that one...

Retodon8 · Post by **Retodon8** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 17:00

tulip wrote:Spleen could also be right, because Berkle obviously is a family name if you google it.

He is right, Tom Hall explained it in an interview/FAQ/something once.
The Berkeloid is named after a boy called Berkle, or similar, who thought of a monster made of fire... or dreamed about such a monster maybe.
I'm going from memory here, couldn't find where I read it.

The same text explains Princess Lindsey was named after a girl called Lindsey who also wrote Apogee.
Her last name sounded Mexican, so she has a bit more colour then Billy.
Something like that anyway.

StupidBunny wrote:"Vitalin" is probably from "vitare," which means "to live" in Latin. The -lin suffix is usually used in pharmaceuticals and some chemical compounds so that's probably where it's from. (Spleen's explanation is basically the same, but simpler )

It sounds a lot like "Ritalin", which can't be a coincidence.
That's basically what you said already, but I'm naming a specific product.

grafix · Post by **grafix** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 21:06

Actually, someone I know from school has an electronic cigarette. He used it for a while because he was trying to quit smoking (although I don't think it worked very well...)

XkyRauh · Post by **XkyRauh** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 0:25

Ceilick is 'ceiling' and 'lick,' obviously. :P

Spirogrip is 'spiral' and 'grip,' while we're at it.

Spindred is 'spin,' 'dread,' and 'red.' :)

I'm curious what can be said about the Orbatrix. Orbit, Tricks, and...?

I'm also curious about Shikadi...

TMST also pointed out that Three Tooth Lake could be Trident. :)

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Some Keen Etymology

Some Keen Etymology

enjoyed the academic nature of your post.