Monday, August 3, 2020

Strand More Than a Bookstore

Strand More Than a Bookstore Like so many other book lovers, my breath caught when I heard of the passing of Fred Bass. Strand is a special place for me, and it was sad news. When you live in a big city, especially one like New York, it’s always a good idea to have a place or two of your own, to paraphrase my girl Virginia Woolf. Strand was one of those places for me. Though I lived uptown in Morningside Heights, and Strand was all the way downtown in Union Square, I often made the trip on a whim or when it wasn’t convenient for me, for the simple fact that Strand was a survival tool for me. It was not my first time living in Manhattan, but the last time I lived there, I was in my early 20s. And as Joan Didion once famously said in her essay “Goodbye To All That,” “…It is less often said that New York is also, at least for those of us who came there from somewhere else, a city only for the very young.” Nearly 10 years later, in my early 30s, while in an MFA program, the city grated on me: the dirtiness, the unfriendliness, the constant rush, the noiseâ€"I couldn’t wait to leave. Having lived for nearly 5 years down South before moving back North, I had serious culture shock, and never quite got used to the city again. Whenever it started to get too bad, I would hop a subway to Strand, where I could push through the crowds to the lower floor and look at all the ARCs they had and peruse the literary nonfiction. Or I would head upstairs, to the YA and children’s sections, in search of something for my nephew. Later, I would look in the parenting section for bo oks on infertility, becoming a mother through assisted reproduction, and eventually, books on pregnancy and parenting. Or I would make a beeline to the side of the store, where I could sift through all the cool socks, or get a new journal or 7-year-pen. And of course, those totes. Touristy, yesâ€"but damn, they were so darn cute. The first time I went to Strand was a few months into my MFA program. My aunt hadn’t been doing well (she had been diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer a year and a half earlier), and I was supposed to meet a new friend for coffee downtown. I stopped at Strand to kill some time, and ended up with a bag full of books, happily surprised at the cheap prices. Stepping onto the sidewalk, I took out my phone to see if my friend had texted, and saw that I had a bunch of missed calls from my dad. Long story short, my aunt had been taken to the hospital because of pain, and things had gotten a lot worse. Sobbing, my dad said, “Jaime, it’s the beginning of the end.” I didn’t go back to Strand for months after that. When I finally did go back that day lingered in the back of my head, and to this day I think of my aunt every time I go there. But Strand became a sort of refuge for me. On a super hot day, I’d step into Strand, and though it would likely only be marginally cooler, at least I was out of the sun. On blustery cold Manhattan days, the store was nice and toasty, and I’d take my coat off as I lost myself in the stacks, scanning the spines of the books. If I was having a bad day, the thought of trekking all the way down to Union Square exhausted me, but I would somehow force myself to get to the subway station. If I could just get on the subway, it would be okay. Sometimes I’d treat myself to a coffee from The Bean, across the street. Their dirty chai was awesome. It wasnt all bad. I went to a reading of my favorite authors and admired physicians, Atul Gawande, and met one of my childhood crushes, Corey Feldman, at Strand. I once won a Strand contest, and when I went to pick up my prize, got to meet and hold Gizzy (see her Instagram below). I had countless conversations with strangers that one can only have in Manhattan (if youve lived there, you know what I mean) while browsing the stacks. I always, always felt better leaving Strand than when I went in. Today is a sad day as we say a final goodbye to @strandbookstore’s owner and bookseller legend, Fred Bass. ?? #RIP Fred. Thanks for giving me some of the best stacks to run through! We will miss you. #littlestbookseller A post shared by Gizzy • ??not a boy?? (@newyorkdog) on Jan 3, 2018 at 9:28am PST During the last few months that I lived in Manhattan, I was miserable. I knew my time with the city was ending, and for my own physical and mental health, I had to leave. Many times I’d get an iced coffee and sit in the summer sun as it was setting, on a bench outside The Bean, facing the book carts of Strand, people-watching, mired in my sadness and frustration. One moment in particular stands out to me. I was on the phone with my grandparents, trying not to cry, swallowing the lump in my throat, wondering if things would get better. My grandfather kept telling me that it would be all right, that I would be moving soon, and to keep my chin up. My iced coffee cup dripped water on my bare leg, and all I could do was nod, keeping my eyes on the striped Strand totes in the windows, the orange glare from the sunset making me squint. My grandfather was right, of course. When I lost him a few months after that, it is that day that I often come back to in my memories. It is these visceral moments that have made Strand a part of my being. It isn’t just a bookstore to me; it contains all of the bodily senses, houses memories of loved ones, and was a panacea for my depression. In a city that stopped feeling like home for me, Strand was my place. While I don’t live in Manhattan any more, every time I visit, I make sure to stop at Strand. I think it will always, on some level, be my place. And I’m okay with that.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Writing of the Long Song Essay - 957 Words

The writing of the long song â€Å"How can I be proud of my Jamaican roots, when my ancestors had been slaves†? This question asked by a woman with Jamaican roots followed British novelist Andrea Levy for a long time. She wondered how anyone could be ashamed of his or her legacy and thus the foundation of her book, The Long Song, was laid. However, writing the book was a more difficult task than presumed. Levy considered many things at the preliminary stage of the book as she knew that she didn’t want to write yet another historical novel about slavery. This is the reason why she chose to write the â€Å"behind the scenes†-essay, The Writing of The Long Song. Herein she elaborates and discusses the process of writing her book and raises important†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"I was treading where academics cannot go because of the rigour of their discipline† (p. 10, l. 260-262). This combination of two such different ways to write allows her to bring back the voices of those who were left out of the historical texts. Levy’s style of writing is very personal, which could be due to the fact that the receivers of the text are people who probably already know and like her writing and therefore want to read the â€Å"behind the scenes†-part. She keeps a personal point of view throughout the text that for instance consist of a great deal of humour and interjections such as â€Å"Yes, sisters!† (p. 10, l. 231). Instantly, it becomes clear to the receiver that Levy is very aware of her use of these means. She quickly states that she doesn’t want to write yet another story about how horrible slavery is - and as a way of avoiding that, she chose linguistic means that would bring the essay down to an eye level and make it easier for the receivers to relate to her themes. Levy treats multiple themes in her text: Being proud of one’s ancestry and the beauty of writing fiction. The theme of legacy is the first thing introduced in the text: â€Å"The topic of discussion was the legacy of slavery [†¦] I cannot recall the panel’s response to the woman’s question but, as I sat silently in the audience, I do remember my own† (p.7, ll. 2-3, 7-10). This topic recurs throughout the text both in historical accounts andShow MoreRelatedReflection1179 Words   |  5 Pages Writing has always been one of my strengths, enabling me to freely express my creative thoughts in a controlled manner onto a piece of paper. Although my writing process takes a long time, I have complete power over the sentences and structures that I am weaving together to form a cohesive whole. Throughout High School, I was trained to write a structured essay in an ample amount of time by writing, editing, and finalizing my draft. Most of our work involved writing individual essays and researchRead MoreI Am A Writer Of The World Through Writer s Eyes783 Words   |  4 Pagesmost ignore make me happy such as simply sitting in my room with my notebook open, writing a poem. However, the small injustices or terrors that I notice fall to become burdens on my shoulders. While many seem to be at peace, I am restless. I am isolated, because only I am keen to the details of situations around me, which only urges me to make my writing heard. Singing is the platform for which I share my writing, and I wish to achieve success in sharing it through social media without abusing itRead MoreEssay on Cole Porter1035 Words   |  5 Pagesiconic status. The Gershwins, Rogers Hammerstein, and Stephen Sondheim come to mind when thinking of the pinnacle of composing. One other man who deserves his permanent place with these others would be Cole Porter. Porter’s extensive library of songs has become classics along with a series of hit musicals that are still done in high mass today. Porter had his share of incredibly tough times, and it simply only makes his rise to the top even more impressive. Cole Porter is without a doubt one ofRead MoreAn Analysis Of Judie Randall Put Her Daughter, Michele Song, Up For Adoption939 Words   |  4 PagesJudie Randall put her daughter, Michele Song, up for adoption in hopes of giving her a better life with another family. Michele Song s files were sealed by the law, and at the age of 31, after 13 years of petitioning, a social worker was allowed to give non-identifying information about her birth mother and father. Eventually the social worker allowed Song to write a letter in the hopes she could get it to her. Michele Song waited for her daughters birth to contact her birth mother in the hopesRead MoreWalt Whitmans Influences1411 Words   |  6 Pageswas for the American people to develop their own identity. Consequently, he rejected the European writing styles and adapted the use of free-verses to his writing, making it a popular writing style in American poetry. Whitman valued of humanity, nature and spirituality. Therefore, he joined the Transcendental literary movement and contributed to it with his book â€Å"Leaves of Grass† and the poem â€Å"Song of Myself† (2.). Whitman, also was responsible for the Americanization of the Romanticism. WhitmanRead MoreRedemption Song Poem761 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 1 B – assignment due 11 or 12 September in tutorials. Essay question Bob Marley’s â€Å"Redemption Song† is a political poem that needs to be understood contextually for its full meaning to be revealed. Write a 5 paragraph essay (introduction, 3 paragraphs in the body of the essay and a conclusion) in which you discuss the following: 1. The relevance of the history of slavery to understanding this poem. Your answer should include a discussion of the images and repetition that Marley usesRead MoreAnalysis Of Hotel California By The Eagles961 Words   |  4 Pagestimes than I can count, making it another obvious choice for me. Although, when reading through the lyrics the first time, I realized that I had never understood the song meaning and the theme it is intended to portray. It was interesting to read through it with my own, as opposed to hearing the tone it receives when listening to the song. Not having the music helped me understand the meaning of the lines better, letting the words sink in instead of them being sung quickly and then gone. â€Å"Hotel California†Read MoreWhen Thinking Of Bob Dylan1210 Words   |  5 Pagesnasally voice. This seems to be the first topic of discussion when Bobs name comes up. Secondly, and more importantly, Bob is known for his talent of song writing, unlike many other artists in today s world, bob tells a story with all of his songs. Many of his songs are over 5 minutes long, for those who don t know much about music, this is extremely long. He takes time and puts in immense effort in all of his work, which is why Bob is known for his great work and the reason for Dylan winning the NobelRead MoreThe Sound Of Silence By Simon And Garfunkel1337 Words   |  6 Pagesand it was number one on billboard s hot 100 for a week. Originally this song falls under the folk rock and soft rock genres. The two covers I have choose are by Disturbed (2015) and Touch of Glass (2016). While many older people have heard of the song sound of silence by Simon and Garfunkel most of the younger gener ation have only heard of the song by Disturbed with many people believing that disturbed wrote the song in the first place. Most people have never heard of Touch of Glass let aloneRead MoreThe Song Of Myself By Walt Whitman And Howl1353 Words   |  6 PagesBoth â€Å"Song of Myself† by Walt Whitman and â€Å"Howl† by Allen Ginsberg are important pieces of American poetry. â€Å"Song of Myself† was written in the 1850’s and â€Å"Howl† was written about a century later. Both poets were part of groups that wanted to change America – the Transcendentalists and the Beats. Transcendentalists believed in the goodness of people and nature. They believe that people are at their best when they are truly independent. The Beats rejected standard values and materialism. They experimented

Monday, May 11, 2020

Two Approaches Of Leadership And Leadership - 1743 Words

Leaders throughout history have displayed many characteristics and traits which make them who they are, and influence the decisions they make. Whether or not the leader was born with these traits has never been scientifically proven. However, it is within human nature that we learn through trial and experience to improve our mental cognitive ability, and therefore leaders are, until proven otherwise, made not born. Whether a leader is born a leader, or made a leader is not relevant to the end result. What is relevant is if one of the two approaches of leadership produces a better leader. Leaders play a large role in society, and great leaders play a large role in history. Trying to hypothesise whether leaders are born or made is ironic, as by studying that topic, you are effectively helping to make future leaders. Leaders are crucial to the continuing development of the human race. Without leaders, the world would hardly change from when humans first inhabited it. Leaders inspire change, with goals and aims in place to further develop the human race. While not all leaders have the same ideology as others, they are still reaching to enhance the population. Leaders have been present throughout all history, and many have played a large role in how society operates today. Leaders usually show many similar characteristics to each other, and for this reason, many believe that a leader must have these same qualities or traits to be a successful leader. Of interest however, isShow MoreRelatedLeadership, Transformational Leadership And Leadership Approaches Essay1738 Words   |  7 Pages When one thinks of leadership, they think of just one thing but there are different types of approaches to leaderships that one would not know. These types of approaches are broken up to two groups that of traditional approach and that of contemporary approach which is then broken down to smaller groups of leadership approaches. The traditional approach is broken down to three different approaches such as trait, behavior, and contingency approach in which these approaches are based upon a leader’sRead MoreApproaches to Contemporary Leadership Essay1114 Words   |  5 PagesContemporary Leadership: The concept of leadership is an issue that has elicited considerable debate in the recent past to an extent that there is an extensive body of research and literature that addresses the issue. Some of the most common issues in the wide range of literature on this issue include scientific investigation, fiction, and biographies (Truckenbrodt, 2000, p.233). This concept has generated such concerns because leadership influences politics, academics, organizations, militaryRead MoreLeadership Theory And Situational Leadership1621 Words   |  7 PagesLaFeve AS 301 30 October 2015 Midterm Paper Leadership is one of the human traits that are looked up to the most. When a task is at hand many people look around for someone to lead them and take charge. Leadership has been a part of The Air Force since it was created in 1947. Recently more emphasis and researching went into leadership and scholars provided leadership theories. Two of the theories are the Full Range Leadership model and the Situational Leadership model. Both of these theories provide ideasRead MoreLeadership As A Good Leader1319 Words   |  6 Pagesprocess of leadership at its core can be discerned whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. (pg.5) In all paths of life some application of leadership can be observed though the best version is never certain depending on the circumstances. Leadership should be situational depending on whatever is happening or the needs of the team are at the time. In this paper, I will discuss my experience in years past in a setting of bot h transformational leadership. My leadershipRead MorePersonal Leadership Qualities And Qualities788 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many different theories and approaches developed, that help determine personal leadership qualities and actions. Each approach holds valuable information in relation to leadership styles and qualities, yet you must find the approaches that appeal to you when attempting to determine your own leadership qualities. The skills approach and authentic leadership approach were the most appealing for me. I choose these two approaches because I believe that it is very important to be an authenticRead MoreLeadership Theory And The Path Goal Theory Essay1456 Words   |  6 Pagesways in which the field of leadership is developing along with the importance of its evolutionary path for theories, models, and different methods. Leadership focuses not only on the leader, but also on subordinates, peers, supervisors, work setting, and culture. Leadership has evolved over the years and we’re go ing to explore a few updated leadership approaches. There are a few different leadership approaches that were discussed in this course. The leadership approaches I’ll be discussing are theRead MoreLeadership Strategies For Leadership Development1336 Words   |  6 Pagesskills needed for leadership have also changed—more complex and adaptive thinking abilities are needed. The methods being used to develop leaders have not changed (much). The majority of managers are developed from on-the-job experiences, training, and coaching/ mentoring; while these are all still important, leaders are no longer developing fast enough or in the right ways to match the new environment† (Future Trends, 2014, p. 5). In Mr. Petrie’s review â€Å"Future Trends in Leadership Development,† heRead MoreLeadership Styles And Philosophies Of Leadership Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership and You Leaders play a crucial role in the society and organizations, especially with regards to helping the organization achieve its objectives and purposes. These individuals use varying approaches to leadership that inform their practices in motivating organizational members towards the accomplishment of common objectives. Through their practices, leaders not only influence the behaviors of their followers or subordinates but also help in shaping organizational culture. The useRead MoreDifference Between Character And Characteristics, Situational Theory And The Path Goal Theory1254 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Contingency approaches, the difference between character and characteristics, situational theory and the Path-Goal Theory. I will give an assessment of how the application of each can enhance my leadership effectiveness. I will cover how it has made me rethink preconceived ideas about what it means to be a leader to flowers. I will focus on the relationship between leader, follower and situations. Contingency approaches Daft (2014) defines the Contingency approaches as approaches look at the leadershipRead MoreThe Situational Approach And Contingency Theory1617 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many dissimilar leadership approaches leaders can employ when working toward meeting goals and in situations. But the two approaches, I will be discussing are the situational approach and contingency theory. These two approaches are the same, but yet they are dissimilar. According to Hanks (n.d), â€Å"the situational approach and contingency theory describes how different approaches to leadership can help owners and managers reach their goals.† The situational approach was developed in 1969

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Slave Trade Free Essays

History Hon. Document Based Question Essay For years people have blamed Europeans of the Early Modern Period for slavery, when truly it was not. At the very beginning of it all, lies the African businessman of the Early Modern Period. We will write a custom essay sample on Slave Trade or any similar topic only for you Order Now He just wants to make money, even if that means selling his own kind. That is the part people in history today forget, that Africans were sold by their own blood. Europeans during this time we’re searching for wealth; gold, silver, cotton, tobacco, etc. What they lacked was the workforce to harvest all these items. The government or Gobroon Dynasty, our businessmen, seized the opportunity that was in front of them. Essentially, the Atlantic Slave Trade in Western Africa really boomed between 1650 and 1850 when the demand for slaves seemed to increase daily, according the Journal of African History. Acquiring slaves had gone from peaceful and civilized to aggressive and militarized. As stated in the Cambridge University press in 2000, society had found it acceptable to raid for supplies that could be used to buy slaves and slaves only. The blame for Slavery can be placed on the natural human desire for wealth and power, which is essentially greed. When a human has the desire for wealth, they will try to obtain it by any means necessary. Even if a human has to sell their own flesh and blood, the only thing that matters is wealth. The participation of Africans in slave trade was voluntary; Europeans could have gotten their slaves from China or India or Mexico or anywhere else with an abundant workforce. In compliance with the Cambridge University Press in 1992, Europeans did not force the African leaders to sell slaves; they made that choice on their own. The mainstream view of slavery is what went on in the plantations of southern America, what usually does not get as much attention is what the Africans went through before they set foot on the boat. More than often, the enslaved Africans would spend an average of 11 weeks aboard the ship before living the inhumane life of a slave for the rest of their existence, according to The Cost of Coercion: African Agency in the Pre-Modern Atlantic World written by Stephen D. Behrendt, David Eltis and David Richardson. That point of the process is crucial in determining how the slave would be treated during the trip and on the plantation. For example, if a slave was to lead a revolt while sailing aboard the ship, the slave trader could make sure that when the time comes to sell the leader of the revolt, he would be sold to a very cruel master. In accordance to recent articles, views of the Atlantic Slave Trade in Western Africa are starting to shift toward the very root of the industry. People are not so much looking at what happened in the United States of America but mostly at things up until that point. After reviewing all the articles, I can see how important what happened before the boat ride is important. How to cite Slave Trade, Essay examples

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Lennie of Mice and Men free essay sample

Most people always have an innocence to them, some more than others. Those that hurt people intentionally and don’t care about other people’s feelings may not have that innocence. Lennie if Of Mice and Men by George Stienbeck is the biggest kid around. Problem with him being a so called kid is that he’s actually a rather large grown man. People say he should be locked up in a looney house, he’s never going to be of any use or do well in life. Well should he? He doesn’t mean any harm. Lennie in this novel always acts like a child and never means the harm that he accidently causes. Lennie is a grown man but really just a child at heart. He’s a big man, could kill you with a flick, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly even if told to. â€Å"Jesus† said Slim, â€Å"He’s jes like a kid, ain’t he. We will write a custom essay sample on Lennie of Mice and Men or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † (43). Anyone with a heart that wasn’t bitter could see through Lennie’s exterior, and could see an innocent child at heart. Lennie likes to touch soft things, just don’t score him while he’s petting it. â€Å"I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along. † (6). Lennie said. â€Å"I jus wanted to pet ‘um a little. † Maybe Lennie liked to pet and touch soft things because he had an obsession with soft things in his childhood. Just a big kid that liked soft things. Lennie never meant to hurt people or animals. Lennie accidently hurt and scared people, but he never meant to cause that. â€Å"I didn’t mean no harm, George. Honest, I didn’t. † (43). Said Lennie. â€Å"I don’t want ta hurt you. † (91). Lennie most likely never meant to cause harm, pain, or sorrow, it was always unintentional. Lennie always felt bad when he hurt someone, he didn’t mean to harm them. He knew when he had done something bad, he knew George was going to be mad at him for it. Whispered in fright, â€Å"I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing. †(41). Said Lennie. â€Å"Ain’t you gonna give me hell George? † (103). Lennie felt bad about the accidents he caused. He knew had done bad. He knew he was going to get in trouble for it. Lennie never meant any harm, and when he did cause harm he always felt bad and guilty. Things take a twist for the worst when the inner child causes unintentional harm. Of Mice and Mens Lennie never meant to harm. Those that did not like Lennie didn’t have a heart or the innocence. He could have done well in life, if people just gave him a fair chance instead of judging. See things the way Lennie does, the innocent way. Lennie is innocent, is just a big kid, and never means the pain he accidently causes.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Privacy and Information Technology essays

Privacy and Information Technology essays Geoffrey Graves MG3700 Mid Term Exam 4/24/2000 In order to produce an upwards swing in revenue, Toy World must track its customers buying trends with more accuracy and more detail. The Point of Sale system that they are currently working from can be improved and made to reduce after-market inventory. Trend data can be used for a wide variety of purposes. One of the first problems is the store design and layout of items. Sale items and hot merchandise must be as strategically positioned as possible to allow a prospective customer to locate and remove the item from the shelf quickly and painlessly. By analyzing customer data, the new system must be able to sort items not only by popularity, but also by genre. Once data is collected, new stores can be quickly designed around the products. Some trends never die, seen by the toy world market data. Comparing one toy with another is extremely important in order to decipher just why its a big seller. The POS system should be able to lay out all pertinent information about a toy obtained from sales data, and compare it next to a variable number of other hot sellers. Data can be compared with toy descriptions after analysis of the item, and research of the toys advertisements and media exposure. Also by doing this, under- stocking and over-stocking shelves can be prevented. A hot toy can be kept in stock if the retailer orders a large quantity ahead of time after POS analysis. What of the items that dont sell much when the POS data is analyzed? The system should be able compute the quantity to order, to keep in the stock room, or to totally remove the item from inventory. At the snap-shot of this case, Toy Worlds tactical strategic position was decent and had room for expansion, but the tactical position was lacking in many areas. If you ask the CIO of any successful company ...

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Bull and Cow and Other Bovine Terms

Bull and Cow and Other Bovine Terms Bull and Cow and Other Bovine Terms Bull and Cow and Other Bovine Terms By Mark Nichol The noun (and adjective) bovine, from the Latin term bos by way of the French word bovin, is the scientific word for cattle and related animals; it is one of several words in various languages that is cognate with cow, as both words apparently stem from a proto-Indo-European word imitative of mooing. (In allusion to the unintelligent, slow-moving characteristics of cattle, it is also applied to slow, stupid human behavior.) From bovine we also get beef (from Old French buef), which usually refers in general usage to the meat of cattle used as food, but it also applies to adult cattle; the plural beefs has overtaken the original beeves. Use of the word beef has extended to the idea of â€Å"complaint† (perhaps based on the griping of military personnel about their beef rations) and to the notions of brawniness (the adjective beefy) and adding strength (the idiom â€Å"beefing up†). Beefsteak refers to a particular cut of beef, and Beefeater is another designation for the Yeoman Warders, traditional guards of the Tower of London, which originated as a nickname alluding to the rations of beef and beef broth they consumed. Bull, from the Old English word bula, refers to male specimens of cattle (especially those not deprived of reproductive capability) and other large mammals. A bullock is a young or castrated bull. By extension, bull describes a brawny man (and was slang for a police officer) or a person who buys stocks because he or she expects the price to rise or hopes for a rise to occur; to bull is to act forcefully or violently, and the word is the first element of a compound referring obliquely to excrement and describing speech that is boastful, foolish, or misleading. Cattle itself is ultimately from the Medieval Latin noun capitale, meaning â€Å"property† or â€Å"stock,† by way of the Old French term chattel; it is cognate with capital in the sense of â€Å"assets† or â€Å"stock† and with chattel, meaning â€Å"property.† Cow, which technically describes adult females of various large animal species, including cattle, but is used popularly to refer to cattle of either gender, stems from Old English but, as mentioned earlier, is cognate with a variety of words from other languages that pertain to cattle. Ox (the word is from the Old English oxa) refers to male cattle bred as work animals (usually draft animals, meaning that they pull wagons or other vehicles) rather than as a source of beef; the plural is oxen. A steer is a young bull or ox, though in American English usage it designates any male beef cattle; the word comes from the Old English term steor, meaning â€Å"bull.† Two other terms associated with cattle are calf (plural calves), from the Old English word cealf, meaning â€Å"young cow† (of either gender), and heifer, from the Old English word heahfore, which refers to a young (female) cow, especially one that has not yet borne a calf. The verb calve refers not only to giving birth to a calf but also, by extension, to the separation of a small piece of ice from a glacier or other mass. (Calf, in the sense of the fleshy part of the lower leg, may be a distant relative.) The slang term dogie, used by cowboys but of unknown origin, refers to an orphaned calf. Speaking of cowboys, the word cowboy, as well as cowhand, cowherd, cowpoke, and cowpuncher (the latter two words derived from the notion of prodding cattle), refers to one who tends cattle. The idea of cowboys as spirited (perhaps inspired by the behavior of cowboy characters in western films and television programs) gave rise in the late twentieth century to the use of cowboy to denote aggression or recklessness. Cowman generally describes a cattle rancher rather than those he employs. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsDawned vs. Donned50 Musical Terms Used in Nonmusical Senses