I don't think any of the above entries covers the sense that is intended in the titles of Irish tunes. I suspect it just meant "a nice wee tune from..." eg Ennistymon. I imagine it's a word with a peculiarly Irish meaning, having been mistranslated from the Gaelic.
It simply means "the fun had at" (e.g. The Humours of Ballywherever) or "the fun had assisted by" (e.g. The Humours of Whiskey or my own iniquitous The Humours of Buckfast).
Use the Oxford English Dictionary - it is vastly superior to Merriam Webster.
Humours in this archaic usage refers to: atmoshphere / ambience / feeling / character - (most closely approached by 2b in the Merriam Webster offering from Nastywee.
"Humours of . . ." might be equated in more modern usage to "Memories of . . ." or "Reflections on . . . "
Invariably in its use in the naming of tunes this implies happy memories, or fond reflections, so Aidans definition of "The fun we had..." is probably the easiest working model.
The neat trick is to get down to the local library and read the OED, committing it carefully to memory, then it costs nothing at all! It's no harder, surely, than remembering a lot of tunes without the dots.
I live just next to Ibrox (for my sins) and I'm pretty sure I could make a bomb busking a tune called "the humours of buckfast" outside the grounds after/before a game!!!
There's many an empty bottle to be found near my close door on a Saturday afternoon... You just cannae acount for taste!
Wow! drizzt! I used to live at 243 Langlands Rd., Govan. As well as being a doss-house for harriers from all over Scotland, a centre for neurobiology research, session headquarters for the GU Research Club Session (as it was then), a brewery and nursery for illegal plants, it was where I spent countless hours self teaching the flute...and occasionally sleeping. Ask Bouzyboy lest you think I exagerate.
Poor Dan - you have all my sympathy.
I stay on Elizabeth St (tho my windaes look onto Ibrox St - hissss!) By comparison, your move South was a good choice.
Err.... I actually quite enjoyed my stay there! I didn't take much to do with Govan itself, though. Maybe it's gone even further downhill in the 18 years since I was there...although I don't see how that could be possible....
A harrier? that's a long distance runner who runs with an athletics club, not yer faddy jogger type. Usually to be found of a Saturday running road or cross-country races, this species can be recognised by its propensity to consume huge quatities of beer at one sitting, and these sittings are numerous, under the pretext of electrolyte replacement therapy...
but..... I recognise that's maybe not everyones cup of tea, though.
Humours
Humours
Dear friends with a better English vocabulary: what is the meaning of the word "humour" in all those tune titles?
# Posted on September 24th 2003 by sixholes
Re: Humour: a fabulous word
From Merriam-Webster (an American dictionary, so mind the spelling)
Main Entry: 1hu
# Posted on September 24th 2003 by nastyweegirl
Re: Humours
The Secretions of Ennistymon?
I don't think any of the above entries covers the sense that is intended in the titles of Irish tunes. I suspect it just meant "a nice wee tune from..." eg Ennistymon. I imagine it's a word with a peculiarly Irish meaning, having been mistranslated from the Gaelic.
# Posted on September 24th 2003 by Rudall the time
The secretions of Ennistymon
That f*cking fiddler gets all over the place!
Who's the resident Gaelic expert?
# Posted on September 24th 2003 by nastyweegirl
Re: Humours
It simply means "the fun had at" (e.g. The Humours of Ballywherever) or "the fun had assisted by" (e.g. The Humours of Whiskey or my own iniquitous The Humours of Buckfast).
# Posted on September 24th 2003 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Humours
ha ha - The Humours of Buckfast - there's a tune I'd like to learn...
# Posted on September 24th 2003 by Yohan
Re: Humours
As in The Humours of Blythe Hill? (sorry - just a wee reminder)
# Posted on September 25th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Humours
what about the humours of ballymuck?i dont think ud have much fun ther!!
# Posted on September 25th 2003 by needaliver
Humours of Buckfast
Yohan
See the tune section here ... I've just added it
# Posted on September 25th 2003 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Humours
Use the Oxford English Dictionary - it is vastly superior to Merriam Webster.
Humours in this archaic usage refers to: atmoshphere / ambience / feeling / character - (most closely approached by 2b in the Merriam Webster offering from Nastywee.
"Humours of . . ." might be equated in more modern usage to "Memories of . . ." or "Reflections on . . . "
Invariably in its use in the naming of tunes this implies happy memories, or fond reflections, so Aidans definition of "The fun we had..." is probably the easiest working model.
Ah well, back on yer heads!
Dave
# Posted on September 25th 2003 by showaddydadito
OED
It is superior, indeed, Dave. The online version does cost
# Posted on September 25th 2003 by nastyweegirl
Re: Humours
10 out of 10 for showaddywaddy
# Posted on September 25th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Humours
The neat trick is to get down to the local library and read the OED, committing it carefully to memory, then it costs nothing at all! It's no harder, surely, than remembering a lot of tunes without the dots.
I think it's time for my pills now.
Dave
# Posted on September 25th 2003 by showaddydadito
Re: Humours (of Buckfast)
I live just next to Ibrox (for my sins) and I'm pretty sure I could make a bomb busking a tune called "the humours of buckfast" outside the grounds after/before a game!!!
There's many an empty bottle to be found near my close door on a Saturday afternoon... You just cannae acount for taste!
# Posted on September 26th 2003 by drizzt
Re: Humours
Wow! drizzt! I used to live at 243 Langlands Rd., Govan. As well as being a doss-house for harriers from all over Scotland, a centre for neurobiology research, session headquarters for the GU Research Club Session (as it was then), a brewery and nursery for illegal plants, it was where I spent countless hours self teaching the flute...and occasionally sleeping. Ask Bouzyboy lest you think I exagerate.
Dan.
# Posted on September 26th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Humours
Poor Dan - you have all my sympathy.
I stay on Elizabeth St (tho my windaes look onto Ibrox St - hissss!) By comparison, your move South was a good choice.
What's a harrier?
# Posted on September 27th 2003 by drizzt
Re: Humours
Err.... I actually quite enjoyed my stay there! I didn't take much to do with Govan itself, though. Maybe it's gone even further downhill in the 18 years since I was there...although I don't see how that could be possible....
A harrier? that's a long distance runner who runs with an athletics club, not yer faddy jogger type. Usually to be found of a Saturday running road or cross-country races, this species can be recognised by its propensity to consume huge quatities of beer at one sitting, and these sittings are numerous, under the pretext of electrolyte replacement therapy...
but..... I recognise that's maybe not everyones cup of tea, though.
Danny
# Posted on September 28th 2003 by Rudall the time