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Hen's Teeth
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Do hen's ever have teeth? This would explain "As rare as hen's teeth", otherwise, where did it come from?
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Hens' Teeth Not So Rare After All !
Scientists have discovered that rarest of things: a chicken with teeth.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/0 60223083601.htm
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02 /uom-htn022206.php
Gone does not necessarily mean forgotten, especially in biology. A recent finding by researchers at the University of Manchester and the University of Wisconsin, Madison have found new evidence that the ability to form previously lost organs - in this case, teeth - can be maintained millions of years after the last known ancestor possessed them. Despite the fact that birds last possessed teeth about 70-80 million years ago, the researchers found that modern birds retain the ability to make teeth.
http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v200/n4/full /4813335a.html
As with so many favorite folksy colloquialisms, the phrase "scarce as hen's teeth" originated in the southern United States in the 19th century, first appearing in print in 1858. It is usually uttered with some degree of exasperation mixed with amusement.
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=190193 2
Scientists have discovered that rarest of things: a chicken with teeth.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/0 60223083601.htm
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02 /uom-htn022206.php
Gone does not necessarily mean forgotten, especially in biology. A recent finding by researchers at the University of Manchester and the University of Wisconsin, Madison have found new evidence that the ability to form previously lost organs - in this case, teeth - can be maintained millions of years after the last known ancestor possessed them. Despite the fact that birds last possessed teeth about 70-80 million years ago, the researchers found that modern birds retain the ability to make teeth.
http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v200/n4/full /4813335a.html
As with so many favorite folksy colloquialisms, the phrase "scarce as hen's teeth" originated in the southern United States in the 19th century, first appearing in print in 1858. It is usually uttered with some degree of exasperation mixed with amusement.
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=190193 2
You may still win the bet.
The phrase 'hen's teeth' obviously refers to chickens but some waterfowl have serrations top and bottom which are referred to as teeth in ornithological circles.
All female birds are known as hens along with other names.
No one could argue with this reasoning but it is stretching it a bit. What did we win?
The phrase 'hen's teeth' obviously refers to chickens but some waterfowl have serrations top and bottom which are referred to as teeth in ornithological circles.
All female birds are known as hens along with other names.
No one could argue with this reasoning but it is stretching it a bit. What did we win?
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