17 February 2014

touchstone

[tuhch-stohn]

noun

1. a test or criterion for the qualities of a thing, e.g. touchstone of truth.
2. a black siliceous stone formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal.

Origin:
1475–85; touch + stone

Synonyms
1. standard, measure, model, pattern.

Anagram

chosen tout
notches out
snoot chute
no cute host

Today’s aphorism

The true test of a civilization is, not the census, nor the size of the cities, nor the crops — no, but the kind of man the country turns out.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist (1803-1882)

On this day

17 February 1933 – End of Prohibition, when the US Senate passes the Blaine Act.

17 February 1934 – birth of Barry Humphries, Australian comedian, famous for characters such as Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson.

17 February 2007 – Sylvester Stallone is held by Australian Customs for a couple of hours after prohibited items, believed to be medication, were confiscated from his baggage.