Well Met?

[McClef]

This might help Jock:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_fellow_well_met

Also if you are a fan of Dad's Army you might remember the episode when Captain Mainwaring's twin brother turns up in town - he uses that very phrase.

[Kiltedjohn]

Does someone in "Midsummer Night's Dream" say "Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania"?, implying that he was not happy to meet her. "Well met" would imply the opposite - i.e. happy to meet you.

[Jock Scot]

Does someone in "Midsummer Night's Dream" say "Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania"?, implying that he was not happy to meet her. "Well met" would imply the opposite - i.e. happy to meet you.

I have no real idea of the Shakespearian connection as I tried to avoid all that when I was at school! I can connect that sort of language with the era though. There is a film "Ill met by moonlight", based on fact, where "our lot" on Crete, put a German General in the bag during WW2.

Somehow, just greeting someone with "well met' and nothing more, does seem a tad odd to my ears. I would not like to imply that it is rude or anything, but it does sound rather a curt greeting to my British ears. It appears that is not the case and that is good, so perhaps its a trans-Atlantic economy of words type thing?

[Mike_Oettle]

While “Well met” is not an expression I use much (and I doubt that I have used it at X Marks), I have heard it, and have always associated it with Britain.
Since it is archaic, perhaps that is why you find it strange, Jock. But it certainly came to this country from the UK.
Regards,
Mike

[Jock Scot]

While “Well met” is not an expression I use much (and I doubt that I have used it at X Marks), I have heard it, and have always associated it with Britain.
Since it is archaic, perhaps that is why you find it strange, Jock. But it certainly came to this country from the UK.
Regards,
Mike

Oh, I would not be the least bit surprised that "well met" or variations of it originated in the UK. However, just to write or say "well met" is not a usual greeting in the UK, these days. "How do you do?", "How are you?", "Nice to meet you." "Long time no see!" How are you doing?"would be a fairly usual verbal greeting here. Written greetings certainly would not be "well met" full stop! To be absolutely clear here, I am not criticising in any way, just wondering and learning.

[Macman]

Thanks for this thread, Jock. I've learned a lot. I'd never heard the expression except on XMTS, didn't know what it meant, but had assumed by its context that it was a friendly greeting.

[The Wizard of BC]

I have seen this quite a bit but almost almost always in written form. The only time I have ever heard it used orally was at a Ren Faire.

A quick google search search revealed - "The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) gives a 1589 quotation for this phrase as a friendly greeting."

On this side of the pond, or outside of X Marks, I have seen it about two or three times a year. While until Jock posted I had never seen "Outwith" before. I now find that Outwith is a uniquely Scottish word so perhaps that is why.

Both sound archaic to my ears and I use neither in my common everyday speech.

[Domehead]

Interesting, everyone. Incidentally, I grew up hearing "outwith" regular usage and use it myself in everyday speech.
Ryan

[James Hood]

'Have only encountered, "well met" on this forum, despite being "only" 700+ miles from Mississippi.

Spouse's family originating in Virginia and Tennessee, some unique, unfamiliar bits of Spoken Southern" have been heard over the decades, which required translation.

Gentle e-colleagues, be assured, despite proximity to the largest city on the southernmost North American freshwater inland sea, the following common local-colloqial greetings will not be used on this forum:

"Sup, foo?"

"Aaay, hahyah 'dooon?"

[Tarheel]

Interesting, everyone. Incidentally, I grew up hearing "outwith" regular usage and use it myself in everyday speech.
Ryan

There is a term still used by my family, it being, "fort-wit". It means right away. I'm sure it is derived from "forth with."

Another term that baffles many non relatives is, "toot-sweet." That also means right away. I can only guess it began as, "to (short for toward) swift."

The first phrase in context, is soon rather than later, the second requires running.