OK, etymology fans: Today’s WOTD post is for you. Also for those who do the NYT crossword daily and love a devlishly hard Saturday solve (subscribers only, see here). And also for those who spent way too much time watching TV in the late ’80’s. Everybody else? You get the day off. Lucky you.
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In today’s NYT crossword puzzle, the clue for 34-across is “MacGyvering.” And the 11-letter answer is today’s WOTD, “juryrigging.” For those of a certain age who loved watching Richard Dean Anderson play the hero of this series on TV back in the day, this one’s a gimme.
MacGyver was a famously resourceful fictional sleuth best known for fabricating ingenious devices out of common household materials. You know, like constructing a completely functional atom bomb from a foil gum wrapper and Clorox. Well, maybe not quite that ingenious. But there are eight real life examples – many of which involve duct tape – here. My favorite? DIY teargas from cayenne pepper, vinegar, and baking soda – believe it or don’t. But word to the wise: Next time you’re trapped behind enemy lines with only common kitchen supplies at your disposal, this one might just be a lifesaver.
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Anyway, the reason we know the answer to 34A isn’t “jerryrigging” is that we’d need a 12th letter for that to fit. This set me to thinking about “jury-rigging” versus “jerry-rigging,” The differences are subtle, but real. If you’re deep into etymology, you can get the full story, here. If not – or maybe you’re just averse to clicking – the Cliff Notes version can be found below.
Bottom line? When used in this way, “jury” is a nautical term, not a legal one. And “jerry” has nothing to do with the slur for “Germans” from the WW1-and-2 era.
Intrigued? Well then, by all means, read on.
A jury-rig is a temporary solution created with the materials at hand. In some cases, a jury-rig may be poorly put together, but that sense isn’t part of the definition. Jury-rigs can be clever, innovative, and impressive. If something is jerry-built, however, it’s poorly constructed by definition.
So, there you have it, etymology fans. And now it’s time for me to get back to constructing a hot air balloon out of duct tape and…. Oops, sorry folks: I guess maybe you’ll have to click the link to find out what else you’ll need next.
Happy MacGyvering, y’all!