GR translation: she is starch

[Mike Jing]

Again, OED to the rescue:
  Of a person, his bearing, etc.: Stiff, unbending; formal.



On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 10:39 PM, David Payne <dpayne1912 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> Good point, Bekah.
>
> A google search for "she was starch" (put that phrase in quotes) turns up
> lots of use of the phrase.
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 013,, Bekah <bekah176@@sbcglobal.net> wrote
> >
> > Yes, but perhaps the phrase "a little stiff" might be expanded from
> stiff of body to a bit stiff of temperament. As such it might include some
> idea of "proper." She was starch - she was "up to snuff," or "up to
> scratch," proper.
> >
> > Bekah
> >
> >
> > On Mar ,, 013,, at ::7 PM, David Payne <dpayne912@@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > FWIW, I agree.
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > >> Date: Mon, Mar 013 1::2::9 -600
> > >> Subject: Re: GR translation: she is starch
> > >> From: fqmorris at gmail.com
> > >> To: gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
> > >> CC: pynchon-l at waste.org
> > >>
> > >> Yes.
> > >>
> > >> On Monday, March ,, 013,, Mike Jing wrote:
> > >> P57..6--6 “Why did you leave,” the sad whisper ringing as if through
> > >> a telephone receiver from someplace far away, “they wanted to help
> you.
> > >> They wouldn’t have done anything bad. . . .” Her hair is rolled up,
> > >> George Washington style, all the way around. She gazes at 5°° to
> > >> Slothrop, a patient, parkbench chessplayer’s gaze, very large, arching
> > >> kindly nose and bright eyes: she is starch, sure-boned, the toes of
> her
> > >> leather shoes turn up slightly, she’s wearing red-and-white striped
> > >> socks on enormous feet that give her the look of a helpful critter
> from
> > >> one of the other worlds, the sort of elf who’d not only make shoes
> > >> while you slept but also sweep up a little, have the pot on when you
> > >> awoke, and maybe a fresh flower by the window—
> > >>
> > >> Does "starch" mean "a little stiff" here, like the starch used on the
> linen?
> > >>
> > >
> >
>
>
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