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From: dorettas@iddic.UUCP (Doretta Schrock)
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Re: versatile word (FYI)...no joke here...
Message-ID: <2212@iddic.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 1-Oct-85 11:44:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: iddic.2212
Posted: Tue Oct  1 11:44:30 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Oct-85 07:03:55 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 12

> ...from the German 'fricken,'...

 according to OMNI magazine a couple of years ago, this most ubiquitous
word is *not* an acronym for *anything*.  They gave a list of 10 or so
words that were believed by many to be old acronyms grown into words,
but for which this was not true.  They included "blimp" (it is *not* from
'Balloon, type LIMP'), "posh" (not 'Port-Out-Starboard-Home' as believed),
and even SOS, which is nothing more that an easy to send, easy to recognize
set of letters in Morse code.  I'll find out which OMNI it was if it is a
burning issue with anyone; I remember being surprised myself...

		Mike Sellers