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Newguest Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Mackintosh

Hi

Sydney had a holdall, wore his best suit and carried his mackintosh. I would say he was carrying a coat against rain?

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Next to it lay a mackintosh bag Here I know it is a bag, but why "mackintosh" is not capitalized? I think it's a brand? Or maybe it means that the bag is just waterproof that's why it's not capitalized?

containing something square and heavy – and, fromthe way in whichMiss

Mayfield handled it, delicate and precious.
  

Top answer

Yes, both choices are available, but neither need be capitalized. Charles Mackintosh (1766-1843) invented the fabric, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928 ) designed the bag style: both men have been gone long enough for them to become mere uncapitalized eponyms. I suspect the bag is Rennie's.

— Mister Micawber

  • Yes, both choices are available, but neither need be capitalized.
  • Charles Mackintosh (1766-1843) invented the fabric, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928 ) designed the bag style: both men have been gone long enough for them to become mere uncapitalized eponyms.
  • I suspect the bag is Rennie's.
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4 Answers
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Yes, both choices are available, but neither need be capitalized. Charles Mackintosh (1766-1843) invented the fabric, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928) designed the bag style: both men have been gone long enough for them to become mere uncapitalized eponyms. I suspect the bag is Rennie's.
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Hi

So in the first case Sydney was carrying a coat most probably (since he had a holdall) and in the 2nd case it was a bag designed by a man called Mackintosh?
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That's what I'd guess, yes. Wordplay perhaps, the writer having a bit of fun.
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