MDMD(Part1) Who is Thomas Pynchon?

David Casseres casseres at apple.com
Mon Sep 29 15:47:20 CDT 1997


Davemarc sez
>For all I know Mischianza is a bona-fide term for a 1777 ball thrown by the
>Philly Brits before their withdrawal; but since Andrew raises the question
>of its etymology, I might as well confess that from the first it's reminded
>me of the Yiddish word "mishegoss/mishigas/meshegoss/meshugas," sounding a
>bit like "Michigan" and meaning "craziness; absurdities."  As I understand
>the term, a mishegoss would be an apt term for an informal, exaggerated
>description of a Ball.  

Hmm.  The word I hear there is "mischance," but I don't much know what to 
do with it.


Cheers,
David




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