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    Why do dog owners or handlers use the word "sic" to instruct a dog to "get him"?

    Question #115904. Asked by star_gazer. (Jul 10 10 10:58 PM)


    Zbeckabee

    		sick (v.) -- "set upon" (sick him!), 1845, dialectal variant of seek.

    http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=sic&searchmode=none

    Jul 10 10, 11:03 PM
    star_gazer

    		The command "sic" comes from a corruption of the German word such, which means to track or search. In German, sic is pronounced "sook" or "suk," but like many foreign words, the pronunciation has been altered over time by those not familiar with the language.

    http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/languag1.htm


    Something to consider: If "sic" is a misspelling of the German word, should it be printed as "'sic'(sic)"?

    Jul 10 10, 11:45 PM
    Zbeckabee

    		"Sic" is not a misspelling -- but, rather a dialectal variant of the word seek.

    Sic/Sick

    tr.v. sicced also sicked, sic·cing also sick·ing , sics also sicks

    To set upon; attack.

    To urge or incite to hostile action; set: sicced the dogs on the intruders.

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sic

    Jul 11 10, 12:01 PM

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