The Joy of using Archaic Words
Today’s word: Runabout
Well, already halfway through the first month of 2025. Days are getting longer. Still cold outside, but hey, spring is not THAT far away. Blink, it will be March 20th, the first day of spring. Probably will be snow still on the ground; however, temperatures will be above 0C consistently, giving the opportunity for the snow to melt and the grass to start growing, Oh Yeah 😊.
The word for this post, Runabout. From my copy of the New World Dictionary (America English, 3rd edition), it is a noun meaning (1) a person who runs about from place to place (2) a light, one seated, open carriage (3) a light, one-seated, open automobile, roadster (4) a light motorboat. From the Winston Dictionary, runabout meaning (1) a light, motorcar or carriage (2) a light motorboat (3) one who gads about. The New Universal Handbook of Necessary Information, runabout is a noun meaning (1) a light open automobile, an uncovered carriage (2) a light motorboat. From Google, the Oxford Languages, it is a noun meaning a small car, motorboat, or light aircraft, especially one used for short trips.
I have to say, the only time I can remember this word being used, in the 3rd Star Trek series, Deep Space Nine. I probably will get a lot of flack for this, but Deep Space Nine has been and probably will always be my favourite of the Star Trek TV shows. Granted, I have only watched the Original Series, Next Gen, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Maybe one of these days, I will bing-watch Star Trek: Enterprise, but I have to admit, the opening theme for Enterprise, not a fan. I mean, it has lyrics in the theme where the other ones are mainly music without lyrics (the Original and Next Gen, true they have a preamble spoken at the start of the theme. However, the rest of the theme is without words). And Enterprise is the prequel of the Star Trek shows and I have not been much of a fan of prequels. I mean, I grew up where Star Wars meant the Trilogy of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi. Now, these are recognized as Episode 4, 5, 6. The prequels of Star Wars are The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, The Revenge of the Sith (episode 1, 2, 3). Thing is, we know, KNOWWWWW that young Anakin Skywalker turns to the Dark Side, becomes the dreaded Darth Vader. WE KNOW THIS!! So, to me, why bother making these movies. I also had the same reaction to Titanic, (Spoiler) the ship sinks after hitting an iceberg. I did not want to pay money to watch Titanic in the theatre, I know the ship eventually rests on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. However, I was in the minority about not watching Titanic because that Film raked in many boatloads of cash in 1997/1998. I stuck to my guns though, I did not watch Titanic in the theatre. I have seen clips of it on TV and YouTube, but to watch the entire film from start to finish, someone is going to have to give me their 401K for that to happen. Still, I am Star Wars fan. I did pay to go see all of the prequel films in the theatre, just out of curiosity to see what Mr. Lucas and his team came up with for us, the Fans, to watch. Not much of a fan of the prequels, but they are entertaining, will admit that.
Ok, getting off topic. Returning to Runabout. Yeah, the only time I can remember this word being used/spoken in any TV show, movie is from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I cannot remember watching/listening any Western I watched where the word, runabout, was used to describe a carriage. From Google also, found this: In short, a runabout is a small motorboat with a seating capacity anywhere between four to eight people, and it usually doesn't include a cabin. While not designed for one specific purpose, a runabout is easily maneuverable around water. From this tid-bit, I can understand why the Folks at Star Trek decided to have these small ships aka runabouts for traveling in Deep Space Nine. These runabouts are tiny compared to a Starship like Enterprise. To avoid having a Starship like Enterprise, take away the focus of the star of the show, the Space Station, they have runabouts in the show to travel.
The aspect of a person who runs from place to place or who gads around, cannot remember any TV show or movie where runabout was voiced to describe an individual ‘who gads around’ or runs from place to place. I suppose one could apply this word to a person who is running aimlessly, without purpose, without a plan, going ‘nowhere special’ (as they say in Blazing Saddles). That would mean, at the end of Blazing Saddles, Sheriff Bart and Jim, the Waco Kid, they became runabouts. Definitely can call Reacher, as in Jack Reacher, a Runabout. He travels the US without a plan, a specific destination since retiring from the US Army. So, yeah, definitely can called Reacher, a Runabout. Mr. Mick ‘Crocodile’ Dundee, that is one who is most definitely, a Runabout. Mr. Dundee likes periodically to go on walkabouts where he basically picks a direction and just starts walking. Eventually, he will decide to turn around and walk on back home. And the aspect of runabout being a light aircraft, used for short trips, I am going to be so bold as to call the Spirt of St. Louis, the plane Mr. Charles Lindbergh used in 1927 to fly from New York to Paris, a Runabout. Compared to a 747, the Spirit of St. Louis is a light aircraft. Compared to flying from Vancouver to Sydney, New York to Paris would be a short trip (at least a shorter trip 😊).
To recap, Runabout is a noun meaning a light or small automobile, an uncovered carriage (2) a light or small motorboat (3) light or small aircraft used for short trips (4) a person who runs from place to place, who gads when traveling. The Joy of this word, being able to apply this word to Irreal individuals such as Reacher, Crocodile Dundee. One Major Joy for me, when I think about the word Runabout, I flash to some of my favourite episodes of Deep Space Nine such as Apocalypse Rising, Valiant 😊 😊.
Well, time for my banal closing, may everyone have plenty more Sunshine moments than the Non-Sunshine ones 😊.
BDJ signing off. Grazie.