The meaning of scrod

By Gary Clothier

LEFT: CLINTON – RIGHT: OBAMA

Q: I visited my new in-laws, who live in the Boston area. On one of our sightseeing excursions, we stopped at a seaside restaurant well-known for seafood, especially scrod. I don’t eat fish, but I was encouraged to give it a try. I did, and I must admit I enjoyed it. My question is: What was I eating? What is a scrod? ‘ D.E., Lancaster, Pa.

A: Scrod is a generic term used for a small, young cod or haddock that has been split and boned. Some say it’s an acronym for ‘Small Cod Remaining on Dock’ or ‘Secured Catch Received on Dock.’ Others claim it simply means ‘fresh catch of the day’ and could be any whitefish. My dictionary says it more than likely comes from an obsolete Dutch word, ‘schrood,’ meaning ‘slice’ or ‘fillet.’

Q: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are both candidates for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election. What are their dates of birth? ‘ P.B.L., Frankfort, Ill.

A: Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton entered the world Oct. 26, 1947, while Barack Hussein Obama Jr.’s birthday is Aug. 4, 1961.

Q: In a recent column, you said that, in 1985, actor Mel Gibson was named People magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ ‘ the first time the magazine made such an honor. My question is, over the past 20-plus years, did any nonactors win the title? Have any passed away? ‘ C.M., Oxnard, Calif.

A: In 1988, John F. Kennedy Jr. was named ‘Sexiest Man Alive.’ He is the only nonactor to receive the honor, and he is the only winner who is now deceased. Kennedy was 27 at the time, making him the youngest winner.

Q: In my woodworking shop, I have an extensive selection of Forstner bits. These flat-bottom bits cut a smooth-sided hole that is important in my furniture construction. I’m sure they are named after a guy called Forstner, but I don’t know. Do you? ‘ G.L.T., Rensselaer, Ind.

A: They are named after Benjamin Forstner (1834-1897), the inventor of the bit. Born in Beaver County, Pa., he later became a gunsmith, dry-goods merchant and a successful inventor. He received a patent for his auger in 1874, which in time made him a wealthy man.

Q: What is the origin of the term ‘jailbird,’ used to describe a prison inmate or a former inmate? ‘ N.W., Salt Lake City, Utah

A: ‘Jailbird,’ or ‘gaolbird’ in England, dates back to the 1600s and possibly even before that. The term is a natural extension of keeping wild or exotic birds in cages, much like keeping a prisoner in jail.

Q: We celebrated Earth Day on April 22. When was the first Earth Day celebration? ‘ R.R., Timonium, Md.

A: April 22, 1970.

Did you know … if you suffer from gephyrophobia, you have a fear of crossing bridges?

Q: I was looking through my seed catalog, selecting this year’s crop of vegetables and flowers. I was surprised at the number of sunflowers available. How many varieties of this flower are there? ‘ W.H., Faribault, Minn.

A: I asked Larry Kleingartner, executive director of the National Sunflower Association in Bismarck, N.D. He told me there are more than 50 species of sunflowers native to the Americas. Some are wild and quite rare, and others are classified as noxious weeds. Domesticated sunflowers are divided into two groups: oil types and confection types. Oil types are smaller, with black seeds, and are used by oil processors; wild birds prefer them as food. Confection varieties have larger seeds, usually with black-and-white stripes on the shell, and are a favorite among folks who enjoy eating the seeds. For more information, visit the association’s Web site at www.sunflowernsa.com.

(Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at [email protected] or c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016.)