Peter T. Daniels scripsit:

> So it's better to perpetuate an error than to correct it.

Certainly, on some occasions. The spelling of French "poids" reflects a
presumed etymology < L. pondus, but the true etymology is < L. pensum;
however, that would not justify changing all "poids" instances to "pois" now
(as in "avoirdupois", the name of the U.S./Imperial system of weights).
Nor are we likely to start talking of bridegooms rather than bridegrooms,
despite the unquestioned etymology < bryd-guma. Do you wish to correct
"crayfish" (or whatever variant you prefer) to "ecrevisse", on the grounds
that the crayfish is no fish?

Stare decisis has its uses.

--
John Cowan jcowan@... www.reutershealth.com www.ccil.org/~cowan
Original line from The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold:
"Only on Barrayar would pulling a loaded needler start a stampede toward one."
English-to-Russian-to-English mangling thereof: "Only on Barrayar you risk to
lose support instead of finding it when you threat with the charged weapon."