Date:  Sat, 5 Nov 1994 05:54:30 -0800

From:  James Beniger <beniger[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]RCF.USC.EDU>

Subject: Re: Relics



"Hangup" has survived even to computers. It is, for example, the actual

command equivalent of exit, quit, logoff, etc., in Comserv.



                    -- Jim Beniger

*******



On Wed, 2 Nov 1994, Warren A. Brewer wrote:



> My favorite "relic" is telephone terminology. We still say, "Your

> phone's off the hook," "Hang up and redial." I've never even seen

> an old-fashioned telephone where the receiver had to be hung up on a

> hook, except on tv or in movies. Haven't used a dial since I can't

> remember when. Suppose this is semantic shift with loss of original

> referent.

>

> Cf. to ship goods by plane/truck/train, as well as by boat still.

> To (set) sail <-- ? affix sails on a boat?

>

>                   ---Wab.

>