| 释义 |
Wren2|rɛn|
Also wren.
[f. three of the initial letters of the name of the Service, made into a singular noun.]
A member of the Women's Royal Naval Service, formed in 1917; also (pl.), the Service itself.
1918[see penguin 2 b]. 1927Glasgow Herald 15 Apr. 7 The war years with all their Waacs and Wrens and Wrafs, seem now to be immeasurably far off. 1940War Illustr. 5 Jan. 558 At all Naval depots ‘Wrens’ are now doing work as clerks, cooks and in many other capacities, thus relieving men for more active work. 1946‘Tackline’ (title) You met such nice girls in the Wrens. 1956[see ]. 1979D. Gurr Troika xi. 75, I..reported to the Admiralty... ‘Captain Jackson's office, please?’ ‘Second floor, sir.’ A good bust and a smile on the duty wren cheered me up.
Hence ˈWrennery joc., a building used to accommodate Wrens.
1943Hunt & Pringle Service Slang 70 Wrennery, billets of the ‘Jenny Wrens’. 1945‘N. Shute’ Most Secret 124, I shall be living in the Wrennery and coming out to Dittisham every day. 1959P. McCutchan Storm South ii. 41 Where did you pick up all this insight into human nature—in the Navy? Serve in a Wrennery or something, did you? 1964Navy News July 5/4 The work included..the building of a Wrennery to accommodate 200 Wrens. |