When I was a kid, a round robin was a term we used to describe basketball - we played a series of games…round robin. In other words, we played one team, then another team, then the winner or loser of another game, and so on- round robin fashion.
I never considered the origin of the term, just thought it was a funny way to refer to playing a series of basketball games. The connotations were obviously circular, but in my young mind, I always visualized robins waiting to use a bird bath, taking turns. One bathes, flies off, and another takes his place, and so on.
Now, thanks to the hubster, I know the real origin of the term, round robin.
He tells me that the term originated in France in the 17th Century - ruban rond - ribbon round - Apparently signatories to petitions against authority (governmental authority) appended their names to a document in a ribbon format so that the ringleaders could not be determined, and therefore persecuted. Leave it to the French.
Did you know round robin is also used to refer to the writing of fanfic, where authors pass around a manuscript? Interesting…
Oh, and here’s a laugh for all you Walking Dead fans - Stay in the fucking house Carl! Thanks, Marina Bridges for writing, and Jaye Manus for telling me you wrote it!
Hope your basketball brackets haven’t been busted as bad as mine have!
When I worked in the banking industry they used the term alot when sending information about people who were passing bad checks.
Have a great weekend!
Thank you for sharing that tidbit! I love knowing the origins of expressions!
No kidding! Didn’t know that. Thanks hubster for me!
I want your hubby on my team the next time I play Trivial Pursuit. He is chock full of goodies!
I also loved that Walking Dead link…..hilarious.
Happy Saturday!
Very cool, I did not know this…
Just saying, but I always find it amusing about how easy it is to determine how deeply writers are into rewrites, revisions and editing by how easily they get obsessed by weird little factoids. I’ve spent hours tracking down sources of eponymous words or trying to figure out the logic of using Greek AND Latin roots in scientific names. Maybe the brain goes into minutia mode or something.
How is the editing going, hmn?
Heh.
Yes, Jaye, weird factoids. A good way to put it. Tomorrow it’s all about love of the game! Editing go good!
Savannah, Casey, Anny, Penny, leave it to my hubby to check out trivia. He’s great in Trivial Pursuit! As long as the question doesn’t involve the British monarchy - that’s my stuff!
Interesting, Amber!
I prefer rectangular robins.
S
Stephanie -