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How do you spell lassarette?

Started by Theis, December 01, 2002, 09:03:50 AM

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Theis

I have tried to find the correct spelling, and see is spelled many ways.

Is it:

lazarette

lassarette

lasarette

lasaret

other

Are there any synonoms?

Tony G

Theis
Concerning your concern...please refer to the manual as per Bill or, like many of us, use the avoidance method :D I'm going with single z double t.  Tony G
My home has a keel.

ebb

my Websters says it began word life in 15th cen.Italy as a pest house to keep lepers (nazaretto - after a church.)     Viz: quarantine.

Lazaretto becomes a space 'between decks' used on  merchant ships for storage.

lazarette is a modern term for a lidded box to keep coffin nails in.:D

Mike Goodwin


Theis

I don't have a Websters, but looked in the Random House and the American Heritage dictionaries.

A "lazaretto" is a hospital treating contagious diseases, or a building or ship used as a quarantine station.  But, the third definition is "A storage space betwseen the decks of a ship".  It is from the Italian lazaretto, from lazzaro, leper, beggar, from Medieval Latin Lazarus.  A lazar is a beggar afflicted with some loathsome disease, especially leprosy.

So we have solved the spelling problem - Thank you - although the word is peculiarly unattractive.  Is there a synonim that might be less loathsome or are we stuck with an inadequate word that really is not appropriate?

Mike Goodwin

I personaly like the old time definition and use of the word , linking me with many generations of my family who went to sea and had to deal with disease without proper treatment .
I find it much more acceptable than 'seat lockers', 'cockpit lockers', ( you wanna really get grossed out , look up cockpit in it's sea going usage . You may not want to sit there anymore . )
Quarantine has been with us for centuries and is still with us . It is harder to bring your dog into this country than it is a sick person with the latest version of the flu , that could kill thousands .
No , I will continue to quarantine my outboard, gas tanks , lengths of line , fenders ,boarding ladder and other odd gear in the lazarette , and will warn all crew 'aye , mind yarself of the lepers when poking about in the lazarette !'