Nimrod – coming from Hebrew and pronounced as you see it – was originally a proper noun. Nimrod was a Mesopotamian king, apparently the great-grandson of Noah (he of ark fame). He was known as “a mighty hunter before the Lord” and merits no fewer than three mentions in The Bible. His most famous feat – in Genesis 10:9 – was the building of the Tower of Babel. Next time you find yourself in a foreign country gesticulating wildly and asking the way to the station at fifty decibels, you know who to blame.
It was his prowess as a hunter which led to his name being borrowed by Ernest Shackleton who was moved to name his ship “Nimrod” in his 1908 Antarctic expedition to the South Pole and for the Hawker-Siddely group to adopt the name for their series of maritime patrol aircraft, primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.
Probably the most common use of his nams is now its pejorative form. Very popular in America, if someone shouts “Hey, Nimrod!” at you, they will not be doing so as testament to your fine hunting skills. This stems from the classic Bugs Bunny cartoons in which he refers to his long-time adversary, Elmer Fudd, as “poor little Nimrod”. Whilst Bugs meant it as a reference to Nimrod himself, it became popular as an expression to convey that someone was less than intelligent, easily confused or slow-witted. In short – a bit stupid.
A pal of mine and his missus nicknamed their unborn child ‘Nimrod’, as it happens.
When the kid was born they actually named it Alastair Charles Arlington Walton.
Should have stuck with Nimrod, really.
Why would that be, T?
Blimey! The reason I chose Nimrod was because of an estate agent whose name I used to see on the way to Saturday morning cinema (yep, that long ago). It qualifies for probably the most daft name I’ve ever seen – Nimrod Ping. Quality.
Sorry Laura – my filter seems to think you’re a dirty rotten spammer! I have slapped its wrist and it shouldn’t happen again.
I was thinking you chose Nimrod because it was the best of the Enigma variations by Elgar. Obviously not then. Maybe you’re more of a Green Day fan instead.
Ah thank you Lynx. Being a bit of a nimrod myself I was sure it was a
hymn. Close – ish!
Lynx – Green Day fan? You take that back right now, young man! A poor man’s Stiff Little Fingers.
Pat – news to me, too. Not much of a classical music listener myself – and the last hymn I sang was probably “all things bright and beautiful” at school.
I would take Elgar over Green Day any time though.