17 October 2013

tallyho

[tal-ee-hoh for 1; tal-ee-hoh for 2–5]
noun, plural tal·ly·hos, interjection, verb, tal·ly·hoed or tal·ly·ho’d, tal·ly·ho·ing.
noun
1. Chiefly British. A mail coach or a four-in-hand pleasure coach.
2. a cry of ‘tallyho’.
interjection
3. the cry of a hunter on first sighting the fox.
verb (used with object)
4. to arouse by crying ‘tallyho’, as to the hounds.
verb (used without object)
5. to utter a cry of ‘tallyho’.
Origin:
1750–60; compare French tayau hunter’s cry

Today’s aphorism

I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries.

– Stephen King

On this day

17 October 1814 – London Beer Flood causes the deaths of 8 people. The flood occurred when a vat containing 610,000 litres (135,000 gallons) of beer ruptured, causing other vats in the building to also rupture, resulting in a total of 1,470,000 litres (323,000 gallons) to flood nearby streets, destroying two homes and the wall of a pub. Those killed were living in the basement of houses which filled with the beer. The brewery was sued, however, the court ruled the event an ‘Act of God’.

17 October 1901 – U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues an Executive Order changing name of the ‘Executive Mansion’ to the ‘White House’.

17 October 1938 – birth of U.S. daredevil, Evel Knievel (Robert Craig Knievel). Knievel was best known for his failed attempt to jump over the Grand Canyon on a rocket-propelled motor-bike. He also successfully, and often unsuccessfully, attempted long distance motor-bike jumps, such as jumping 14 buses. Through his career, Knievel broke 35 bones. Died 30 November 2007.

17 October 1989 – Mother Teresa awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

17 October 2010 – Mary McKillop is canonised by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming Australia’s first saint.

17 October 2011 – Richard Branson, of Virgin Group, opens the world’s first commercial space-port, which he has based in Mexico. The first commercial launch is expected in 2013.