A very good and old friend of mine now sadly no longer with us once said to me that she liked a man with a corporation, because they always look so well set up and wealthy. I had never heard the word used in that way before but I knew exactly what it meant.
It isn’t the same as the English usage of the word corporation although I think it might originate from the borough or town council meaning, as those types tend to get a corporation from being on the council and having lots of beanfeasts at the expense of the rest of us.
A corporation in Scotland is a man’s large stomach. It was seeing our First Minister Alex Salmond’s large corporation looming around a door, stately as a galleon, as he entered a room for an interview on TV the other day which brought to my mind that I hadn’t posted about that Scottish use of the word yet.
Strangely I’ve known a few women who have confided to me that they like their men to have a good corporation. It’s just as well really as so many men have them!
Katrina, That is exactly how we use the word `corporation` in England too, at least in Birmingham where I grew up.
Jane,
Thanks for the info. I had a friend from Birmingham years ago and she also used the word ‘piece’ meaning a sandwich as we use it in Scotland. I used to live in the south of England and neither of those words are used there with those meanings. I wonder if they moved to Birmingham from Scotland or ‘the north’. Thanks for the comment.
Gosh, haven’t thought about that word in years! My mum always used to tell the tubby young me that I had a fine corporation on me! Nice, eh? Anyway, it’s still there – a female corporation!
Mother was being sarky – it wasn’t that she really thought it fine!
Evee,
You just have to thole some mothers – don’t you! I call it child abuse. I like the comedienne Sarah Millican’s description of her tum – cake shelf!
“Look at the corporation on you!” “Look at the cake-shelf on you!” Mmmm! Yes, I prefer cake shelf!!! (She had a bit of a one herself latterly!!!)
Brillant! I love that meaning of the word! Here in the states it is used mainly for ‘company or group of people authorized to act as a single entity (legally a person) and recognized as such in law’ a type of business or company. Never heard any other uses. My hubby has a pretty good ‘corporation’ though!
Peggy,
Jack’s corporation isn’t half bad either especially since Christmas. Och well it makes them all the better to cuddle!