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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Candy floss
Is "candy floss" a term that Amaericans might use?
I've been reading A.S. Byatt's novel "Possession", in which one of the characters is an American Literary scholar, who wrote, in his biography of an English poet, "The baked river banks are slippery now with use, and the northern traveller must shuffle towards his goal amongst crowds of tourists, yapping French dogs, paddling childen and candy floss sellers"
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
I've been reading A.S. Byatt's novel "Possession", in which one of the characters is an American Literary scholar, who wrote, in his biography of an English poet, "The baked river banks are slippery now with use, and the northern traveller must shuffle towards his goal amongst crowds of tourists, yapping French dogs, paddling childen and candy floss sellers"
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
Top answer
[/nq] I'm guessing that it refers to what we Merkins call "cotton candy". I don't believe any Merkins would call it "candy floss". We might rarely (VERY rarely) call it "spun sugar".
- [/nq] I'm guessing that it refers to what we Merkins call "cotton candy".
- I don't believe any Merkins would call it "candy floss".
- We might rarely (VERY rarely) call it "spun sugar".
- Regards, Gerry g(underscore)cechony (at) hotmail (period) com
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12 Answers
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[nq:1]Is "candy floss" a term that Amaericans might use?[/nq]
I'm guessing that it refers to what we Merkins call "cotton candy". I don't believe any Merkins would call it "candy floss". We might rarely (VERY rarely) call it "spun sugar".
Regards,
Gerry
g(underscore)cechony (at) hotmail (period) com
I'm guessing that it refers to what we Merkins call "cotton candy". I don't believe any Merkins would call it "candy floss". We might rarely (VERY rarely) call it "spun sugar".
Regards,
Gerry
g(underscore)cechony (at) hotmail (period) com
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Cotton candy is the more familiar term, but candy floss is familiar too. I am guessing that there was a period of time within my lifetime when they were both in use, perhaps by different tribes operating traveling amusement fairs.
I note that I cannot read the end of the quote without correcting it to "children who need paddling".
Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
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Cotton candy is the more familiar term, but candy floss is familiar too. I am guessing that there was a period of time within my lifetime when they were both in use, perhaps by different tribes operating traveling amusement fairs.
I note that I cannot read the end of the quote without correcting it to "children who need paddling".
Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
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[nq:1]Is "candy floss" a term that Amaericans might use? I've been reading A.S. Byatt's novel "Possession", in which one of ... northern traveller must shuffle towards his goal amongst crowds of tourists, yapping French dogs, paddling childen and candy floss sellers"[/nq]
The physical thing is called "cotton candy."
As a figurative term for "fluff," we have many terms for that. We have eno
The physical thing is called "cotton candy."
As a figurative term for "fluff," we have many terms for that. We have eno
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[nq:1]Is "candy floss" a term that Amaericans might use?[/nq]
It is a term that Danes might use. It was the term used for the stuff in Danish amusement parks around 1960. And my colleague (born 1971) also uses that term in Danish. I originally thought that the name was picked up along with the product from some part of the English-speaking world at the time, but when I moved to the U.S. in
It is a term that Danes might use. It was the term used for the stuff in Danish amusement parks around 1960. And my colleague (born 1971) also uses that term in Danish. I originally thought that the name was picked up along with the product from some part of the English-speaking world at the time, but when I moved to the U.S. in
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[nq:1]Is "candy floss" a term that Amaericans might use? I've been reading A.S. Byatt's novel "Possession", in which one of ... northern traveller must shuffle towards his goal amongst crowds of tourists, yapping French dogs, paddling childen and candy floss sellers"[/nq]
As others have pointed out, BrE candy floss is AmE cotton candy. But Ms Byatt is generally two or three jumps ahead of most
As others have pointed out, BrE candy floss is AmE cotton candy. But Ms Byatt is generally two or three jumps ahead of most
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[nq:1]A Brit scholar writing about USA would very likely speak of cotton candy sellers.[/nq]
Don't candy sellers come in acrylic these days?
Ross Howard
Don't candy sellers come in acrylic these days?
Ross Howard
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[nq:2]A Brit scholar writing about USA would very likely speak of cotton candy sellers.[/nq]
[nq:1]Don't candy sellers come in acrylic these days?[/nq]
I shall paddle you after I've finished with the children ...
John 'candy stripe usenet poster' Dean
Oxford
[nq:1]Don't candy sellers come in acrylic these days?[/nq]
I shall paddle you after I've finished with the children ...
John 'candy stripe usenet poster' Dean
Oxford
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[nq:2]Is "candy floss" a term that Amaericans might use?[/nq]
[nq:1]It is a term that Danes might use. It was the term used for the stuff in Danish amusement parks ... The terms are often compacted into "candyfloss" and "softice" in Danish, in keeping with the rules for Danish composite words.[/nq]
Here are the entries for "candy floss" and "cotton candy" in MWCD11 :
(quote)
Main E
[nq:1]It is a term that Danes might use. It was the term used for the stuff in Danish amusement parks ... The terms are often compacted into "candyfloss" and "softice" in Danish, in keeping with the rules for Danish composite words.[/nq]
Here are the entries for "candy floss" and "cotton candy" in MWCD11 :
(quote)
Main E
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[nq:2]Is "candy floss" a term that Amaericans might use?[/nq]
[nq:1]It is a term that Danes might use. It was the term used for the stuff in Danish amusement parks ... English-speaking world at the time, but when I moved to the U.S. in 1962 it was invariably called cotton candy.[/nq]
In many parts of the English-speaking world it *is* known as candy-floss, but not, as far as I know, in the
[nq:1]It is a term that Danes might use. It was the term used for the stuff in Danish amusement parks ... English-speaking world at the time, but when I moved to the U.S. in 1962 it was invariably called cotton candy.[/nq]
In many parts of the English-speaking world it *is* known as candy-floss, but not, as far as I know, in the
00
[nq:2]Is "candy floss" a term that Amaericans might use? I've ... tourists, yapping French dogs, paddling childen and candy floss sellers"[/nq]
[nq:1]As others have pointed out, BrE candy floss is AmE cotton candy. But Ms Byatt is generally two or three ... American is describing a British scene. A Brit scholar writing about USA would very likely speak of cotton candy sellers.[/nq]
I still
[nq:1]As others have pointed out, BrE candy floss is AmE cotton candy. But Ms Byatt is generally two or three ... American is describing a British scene. A Brit scholar writing about USA would very likely speak of cotton candy sellers.[/nq]
I still
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