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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Origin of expression
Where does the term "to walk the beat" come from?
Top answer
The etymlogy dictionary says: "action of feet upon the ground" was a sense of the Old English verb "betan" Oxford English Dictionary says: The sense of "beat" (noun) in meaning a watchman's round or duty was recorded in 1825, probably derived from the old meaning of the verb. It is not a new expression...
- The etymlogy dictionary says: "action of feet upon the ground" was a sense of the Old English verb "betan" Oxford English Dictionary says: The sense of "beat" (noun) in meaning a watchman's round or duty was recorded in 1825, probably derived from the old meaning of the verb.
- It is not a new expression...
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2 Answers
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The etymlogy dictionary says:
"action of feet upon the ground" was a sense of the Old English verb "betan"
Oxford English Dictionary says:
The sense of "beat" (noun) in meaning a watchman's round or duty was recorded in 1825, probably derived from the old meaning of the verb.
It is not a new expression...
"action of feet upon the ground" was a sense of the Old English verb "betan"
Oxford English Dictionary says:
The sense of "beat" (noun) in meaning a watchman's round or duty was recorded in 1825, probably derived from the old meaning of the verb.
It is not a new expression...
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Hi,
I don't recollect hearing 'walk the beat' used outside a police context.
Generally speaking, police in N. America do not usually do this anymore. They normally patrol in police cars.
So, the expression sounds pretty old-fashioned to me.
Best wishes, Clive
I don't recollect hearing 'walk the beat' used outside a police context.
Generally speaking, police in N. America do not usually do this anymore. They normally patrol in police cars.
So, the expression sounds pretty old-fashioned to me.
Best wishes, Clive
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