Changing word definitions

[JaredL]

Anybody know when the word troop changed from a group of soldiers to a soldier?

I remember early in the Iraq war I got pretty upset upon learning that a troop had died (every [censored] guy in the unit died? WTF?!?!) now I've gotten quite used to it.

I'm guessing there are other examples, but using the word troop to refer to a single soldier is pretty bad since it's done all the time by broadcast journalists who are paid 6 and probably in some cases, 7 figures by the biggest news outlets.

[Kimbell175113]

Never heard of this before, but it sounds like maybe it went from trooper --> "troop" as slangy shorthand? Then spread from the military to journalists and everyone else. Actually, this makes less sense now than it did before I typed it. Maybe people are just dumb.

[Blarg]

You're more likely to see a spokesmodel than a journalist on t.v.

That out of the way, I remember when the Flintstones could "have a gay old time!" without any lisping whatever.

[gumpzilla]

Awesome thread.

[Kimbell175113]

Wait a minute, it's been happening right in front of me, unnoticed. "Support our troops"? That only seems like it makes sense, but it really- man, this is frying my brain.

[GuyIncognito]

This Calvin and Hobbes strip came immediately to mind. It's not exactly about changing the definition of a word, but still hilarious.

http://www.ourlocalstyle.com/images/...dsLanguage.gif

[heater]

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Awesome thread.

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[rutang]

the word "liberal" came to mind when I read this thread, It used to mean practically the exact opposite of what it means now. Originally, it meant someone to whom Liberty was of the highest value. A "Liberal" economist 80 years ago was one who argued the most vehemently for the free market.

I read a collection of essays on Ludwig von Mises, the godfather of classical Liberal Economics, that claimed that this Language Drift was manufactured deliberately by keynesian economists to confuse people who didn't understand economic theory.

[ramsclub]

[ QUOTE ]
Anybody know when the word troop changed from a group of soldiers to a soldier?

I remember early in the Iraq war I got pretty upset upon learning that a troop had died (every [censored] guy in the unit died? WTF?!?!) now I've gotten quite used to it.

I'm guessing there are other examples, but using the word troop to refer to a single soldier is pretty bad since it's done all the time by broadcast journalists who are paid 6 and probably in some cases, 7 figures by the biggest news outlets.

[/ QUOTE ]
During the Vietnam War troop = 1 soldier/sailor/airman/marine
The term troop to designate a unit made of multiple members is used by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 60s TV execs (F Troop). Not by any of the U.S. armed forces

[jesusarenque]

[ QUOTE ]
the word "liberal" came to mind when I read this thread, It used to mean practically the exact opposite of what it means now. Originally, it meant someone to whom Liberty was of the highest value. A "Liberal" economist 80 years ago was one who argued the most vehemently for the free market.

I read a collection of essays on Ludwig von Mises, the godfather of classical Liberal Economics, that claimed that this Language Drift was manufactured deliberately by keynesian economists to confuse people who didn't understand economic theory.

[/ QUOTE ]

Also, "conservative."