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sionnach commented on the word jenny haniver
Jenny Haniver: scientific name, satanicus aquus
a number of peculiar creatures were observed in Paris by Hieronimus Cardanus (a sixteenth century Italian mathematician and physician) and he wrote describing them: "two-footed creatures with very small wings, which one could scarcely deem capable of flight, with a small head . . . like a serpent, of a bright colour, and without any feather or hair." These creatures were about the size of small rabbits. They were probably Jenny Hanivers - fakes made from composites of the bodies of actual beasts, for example the fake "mermaids" created from monkeys sewn onto fish-tails. Jenny Hanivers were immensely popular during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and Jenny Haniver dragons were probably made from sea skates or rays.
jenny
January 12, 2009
Durvin commented on the word jenny haniver
If you want to see a hideous, hideous picture of one, take a look at Wikipedia. The term is a corruption for 'jeune d'Anvers', or 'young girl from Antwerp', but I can't figure out why they would call this that, unless Antwerp girls were TERRIFYINGLY HIDEOUS.
October 6, 2010