Message-ID: <006001c34ab5$d9b21ad0$7131f7c2@johnb5a82ea1a4>
From: "John Rabson" <word.factory@zetnet.co.uk>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
References: <000301c34a3f$561ad520$72ce28c3@captbrian>
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 10:16:55 +0100
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Subject: LF: Re: YL  XYL  YF  PR?
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Then there was OG = 'old girl' but even 40 years ago that was used very
rarely.

About 35 years ago I had what we would now call an animated discussion with
Sylvia Margolis (G3UML's mother) about the correct telegraphic term for
spouse. She insisted that YF was correct, but somebody else in the
conversation suggested that it would never really catch on.

73
John Rabson G3PAI

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "captbrian" <captbrian@ukonline.co.uk>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 8:36 PM
Subject: LF: YL XYL YF PR?


> No. Remember this was all devised long before  before ww2.
>
> OM  equalled "old man" as a form of address  of  pre-war everyday useage
> similar to "mate" or "chum" today  .
> YL equalled  Young Lady  - ie   "my girl-friend " or even " steady "
today.
>
> . In polite pre-war days courtship had serious and honourable intentions
so
> it was assumed that courtship ended in marriage not just an "affaire".
>
> After marrying the "Young Lady"  she became  ex-Young-Lady.  Hence XYL -
not
> an insult but a compliment.
>
> When I was a bright-eyed teenager (around the beginning of time according
to
> my grandchildren now ) YF was equally common-place morse usage  for Wife,
> but that seems to have died.
>
> Of course,  if so called same-sex marriages catch on  a whole new raft of
> abbreviations could be devised !!
>
> ' Morse code usage is a living social history ' -   discuss. ;-))
>
>
>
> Bryan  G3GVB
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alberto di Bene <dibene@usa.net>
> To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
> Date: 14 July 2003 14:51
> Subject: Re: LF: Re: stress with xyl
>
>
> >Hugh M0WYE wrote:
> >
> >>I can't understand how the CW abreviation XYL came about. Please check
my
> >>
> >>
> >OM stands for Old Man and YL stands for Young Lady, supposedly the wife
> >of the old man.
> >XYL was introduced to indicate a next-to-become YL, i.e. the fiancee,
> >before marriage.
> >Then it became customary to indicate the wife with XYL, but the correct
> >way should be YL.
> >
> >73  Alberto  I2PHD
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>