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Subject:Re: To Vet or Not to Vet From:Hamish Lawson <H -dot- Lawson -at- TEES -dot- AC -dot- UK> Date:Mon, 19 Sep 1994 12:18:13 GMT
I was surprised to find that the verb 'vet' seems to be unknown in the
US. I had previously supposed that we in the UK had borrowed
the term from across the Pond, but when I checked my (British)
dictionary it marked it as colloquial but gave no indication of its
having US origins. The origin of the word is in checking an animal
medically (as by a veterinary) and passing as healthy, and by
extension it has come to mean to give someone or something a check
or examination, especially a security check prior to being given a
position, task, or contract.
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Hamish Lawson, School of Computing and Mathematics,
University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, Cleveland,
United Kingdom, TS1 3BA
Tel: +44 (0)642 342693
Email: H -dot- Lawson -at- teesside -dot- ac -dot- uk
