Re: fuori giuoco, o slacciare lato destro

[JHertzman@domain.elided]

In AD7-1116 Will Owen pontificates, as is his wont, that "Offside is the left 
side of a horse - the side from which you dismount - and nearside is, of 
course, the right, or the side you park near the wall or hitching post. The 
knockoff caps on the right side of the car would say "Nearside Undo," and 
those on the left would say "Offside Undo" - - -"

The OED equally pontificates that 'near', as an adjective, "With reference to 
animals or vehicles" means: "Left (as opposed to far, off, or right)" and 
states further that "This use is based on the fact that horses or cattle are 
commonly mounted, led, or approached from the left side, which is 
consequently the one near to the person dealing with them". The OED (like 
Merriam Webster) discusses "offside" only in terms of football, hockey, etc.

I find Will's argument unpersuasive, as I thought horses were parked 
perpendicularly to the hitching post, rather than parallel-parked, and I 
assume that I myself would probably dismount from whichever side the horse 
chose, but would mount from whichever side I was near- but then I have never 
done either. 

Cassell's says nothing about 'nearside', but translates 'offside' as 'lato 
destro' or, in football, 'fuori giuoco'. Any third opinions out there? 

John H. 

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