| | ::::How does one verify the use of a proper name in a given sense? Do such things just get a free pass, subject to an RfD popularity contest? [[User: DCDuring |DCDuring]] <small >[[User talk: DCDuring|TALK]]</small > 18:35, 27 January 2012 (UTC) | | ::::How does one verify the use of a proper name in a given sense? Do such things just get a free pass, subject to an RfD popularity contest? [[User: DCDuring |DCDuring]] <small >[[User talk: DCDuring|TALK]]</small > 18:35, 27 January 2012 (UTC) |
| | :::::[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GlM8HHQX0P8C&pg=PA93&dq=%22the+great+Tom+of+Oxford%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5lYjT_HsM5SJhQfBgqXNBA&ved=0CFcQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22the%20great%20Tom%20of%20Oxford%22&f=true This source] gives another Great Tom at Lincoln as well as the one at Oxford and [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dIQCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA172&dq=%22Big+tom+that+preceded%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=G1kjT77TB9Tz8QOcw_i9Bw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Big%20tom%20that%20preceded%22&f=false this source] appears to be using "Big Tom" generically to mean any large bell. And [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rlNDAAAAIAAJ&q=Tom+large+bell&dq=Tom+large+bell&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cFsjT_5zhZiFB8jr3f0E&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAzgU this one] lists Toms at Oxford, Lincoln, Exeter and St Pauls in a way that might be considered generic. [[User:Spinningspark|<font style="background:#FFF090;color:#00C000">'''Sp<font style="background:#FFF0A0;color:#80C000">in<font style="color:#C08000">ni</font></font><font style="color:#C00000">ng</font></font><font style="color:#2820F0">Spark'''</font>]] 02:17, 28 January 2012 (UTC) | | :::::[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GlM8HHQX0P8C&pg=PA93&dq=%22the+great+Tom+of+Oxford%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5lYjT_HsM5SJhQfBgqXNBA&ved=0CFcQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22the%20great%20Tom%20of%20Oxford%22&f=true This source] gives another Great Tom at Lincoln as well as the one at Oxford and [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dIQCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA172&dq=%22Big+tom+that+preceded%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=G1kjT77TB9Tz8QOcw_i9Bw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Big%20tom%20that%20preceded%22&f=false this source] appears to be using "Big Tom" generically to mean any large bell. And [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rlNDAAAAIAAJ&q=Tom+large+bell&dq=Tom+large+bell&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cFsjT_5zhZiFB8jr3f0E&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAzgU this one] lists Toms at Oxford, Lincoln, Exeter and St Pauls in a way that might be considered generic. [[User:Spinningspark|<font style="background:#FFF090;color:#00C000">'''Sp<font style="background:#FFF0A0;color:#80C000">in<font style="color:#C08000">ni</font></font><font style="color:#C00000">ng</font></font><font style="color:#2820F0">Spark'''</font>]] 02:17, 28 January 2012 (UTC) |
| | + | :::::[http://www.archive.org/stream/slangitsanalogue07farmuoft#page/148/mode/2up/search/%22Great+Tom%22 ''Slang and its Analogues, Past and Present''] defines Tom as a "deep-toned bell" and gives the etymology as a probable onomatopoeia. '''[[User:Spinningspark|<font style="background:#fafad2;color:#C08000">Spinning</font>]][[User talk:Spinningspark|<font style="color:#4840a0">Spark'''</font>]]''' 02:57, 28 January 2012 (UTC) |
