Re: British v. American Vocabulary


20 Sep 1995 12:35:20 -0400

In article <19950918.102758.09@arnod.arnod.demon.co.uk>,
jools@arnod.demon.co.uk (Julian Arnold) writes:

>Is `fortnight' (meaning two weeks) a British-only word? I use it, and
>everyone else here uses it, but I've never heard it used by an American.
>-

'Fortnight' is understood in America, but it's very seldom used. Back in
college, my engineering friends and I used to amuse ourselves by creating
Physics problems and requiring that the answers be expressed in furlongs
per fortnight, and similar unusual units.

Jeff.