Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2021 May 22

= May 22 =

Quarterdeck
Many terms related to sailors' ships have surprisingly silent letters, but "quarterdeck" is an exception; it's pronounced the way it is spelled and not "quaddick". Any reason here?? Georgia guy (talk) 22:26, 22 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Not sure it's "the reason", but quarterdeck dates from the 17th century, while the ones with different pronunciation I could think of (forecastle, boatswain, coxswain, mainsail, and windward) all can be traced to over a century earlier, according to etymonline. ---Sluzzelin talk  22:53, 22 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Wild speculation: perhaps it's because the quarterdeck is more markedly the domain of (usually upper class) officers who would frown on slovenly pronunciation. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195) 90.197.27.217 (talk) 09:32, 23 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Poop deck is another exception. Alansplodge (talk) 17:09, 23 May 2021 (UTC)
 * It doesn't count because it is 2 words. Georgia guy (talk) 19:05, 23 May 2021 (UTC)
 * poopdeck (see also quarter deck). ;-) Alansplodge (talk) 22:21, 23 May 2021 (UTC)