A Ship Lists, and So Does a Piece of Paper
A list is a series of items. A separate list is a ship leaning to one side.
A list is a series of items written one after another, and also the leaning of a ship to one side. The written sense comes from a word meaning a strip or border — names were written on a narrow strip of paper, and the strip named the contents. The ship's list is a separate word of uncertain origin. The *lists* in which knights jousted are a third word, from the barriers enclosing the ground, which is why *entering the lists* means joining a contest.
- A series of items. *A shopping list.*
- A ship's lean. *A list to port.*
- A tournament ground. *The lists.*
- Enlist — to put on a list. *Enlist.*
- Old English — *liste*, a border. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | list | A list. |
| Plural | lists | Lists. |
| Verb | list | Listing. |
| Related | enlist | To enlist. |
| Old English | liste | A border. |
- Write a shopping list.Items.
- The ship listed badly.Leaning.
- He entered the lists.Tournament.
List, heel and trim
- List — a persistent lean from uneven loading or flooding
- Heel — a temporary lean from wind or a turn
- Trim — the fore and aft balance
- A list is a problem; a heel usually is not
- Correcting a list means shifting weight or pumping ballast
Old English *liste*, a border or strip. The ship's lean and the tournament ground are separate words.
What is the difference between a list and a heel?
A list is a persistent lean from uneven loading or flooding. A heel is temporary, caused by wind or a turn.
Why is a joust held in the lists?
From the barriers enclosing the ground, a separate word meaning a boundary or enclosure.