| 释义 |
▪ I. ma|mɑː|
a. A childish and colloquial shortening of mamma. Now often ridiculed as vulgar. Also a familiar shortening of (or substitute for) Mrs. Also applied colloq. to a middle-aged or elderly woman, esp. one in authority.
[1823Moor Suffolk Words s.v. Pa, It is sometimes rather comic to hear a great chuckle-headed lout—paa-ing his father—or maa-ing his mother.] 1829Censor 225 These exhibitions, though affording wonderous delight to affectionate Pas and Mas, are productive of the most injurious results to their children. 1829Lytton Disowned 20 How could he admire that odious cap of Ma's. 1836T. Hook G. Gurney I. 196 Gussy, as her ma' called her. 1885F. Anstey Tinted Venus 119, I've got to dine with aunt and meet Matilda and her ma. 1932J. Cary Aissa Saved xxxvii. 196 You come now, ma; she very sick. 1943K. Tennant Ride on Stranger iii. 27 ‘What-ho, Ma,’ came a howl from the kitchen. ‘Coming.’ Beryl appeared wiping her hands. 1951J. Common Kiddar's Luck xi. 161 My father called them the Ma gang, because they had a habit of always alluding to each other as Ma This and Ma That. Ibid., It was becoming fairly regular to see Ma McGrewin, or Ma Smailes, or Ma Forbes sitting boldly by the fireside. 1966Wodehouse Plum Pie v. 124 ‘Did Ma Purkiss make a speech?’ ‘Yes, Mrs. Purkiss spoke.’ 1974M. Babson Stalking Lamb xvi. 120 ‘Here, Ma,’ Aaron said, ‘I've brought company.’
b. Austral. (With capital initial.) Popular name for New South Wales. So Ma State.
1934Bulletin (Sydney) 24 Jan. 25/1 The Cabbage Gardeners will have to be licked outright if Ma is to have a hope. 1945Baker Austral. Lang. 187 New South Wales, New South, the Ma State or Ma. 1949Geogr. Mag. Feb. 373 New South and The Ma State, New South Wales (oldest state in the Commonwealth).
Add:c. attrib. and Comb.ma-and-pa (chiefly U.S.), used attrib. to denote a small business, esp. a shop, owned and operated by a couple or family, and transf. of other similarly small-scale commercial enterprises (cf. mom-and-pop s.v. mom n.).
1973J. Gores Final Notice i. 6 Ma and Pa businesses alternated with the houses or occupied their ground floors. 1979New Yorker 15 Jan. 6 Ali's Alley... Sort of a ma-and-pa jazz loft, owned and managed by drummer Kashied Ali. 1980A. Tyler Morgan's Passing (1983) ii. iii. 43 He slowly built this scene in his mind where she and he were the owners of a small-town Ma-and-pa hardware store. 1988Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 July 9/1 A few years ago, there were at least 200 or more of them.., mostly ‘Ma and Pa’ operators with strong backs... One by one, they have been taken over by bigger competitors. 1994Chicago Tribune 21 July iii. 3/2 The boutique, or ma and pa, firms that once lined LaSalle Street and were the hallmarks of these exchanges are being supplanted rapidly by international financial behemoth.
▪ II. ma
see make v., may v., me, mo, my. |