Re: [Freeciv-Dev] space-ship or spaceship?

[James Blackwell <innocent@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English language (That
2200+ gold edged monster that you find in colleges) defines it as:

===================
spaceship (spAs'ship'), n. spacecraft. [1940-45; SPACE + SHIP].
====================

So let's look at the other(spacecraft).

==================
spacecraft (spAs'kraft', -kraft'), n. a vehicle designed for travel or
operation in space beyond the earth's admosphere or in orbit around the
earth. [1955-60; SPACE + CRAFT].
==================


According to these definitions, unless you are playing on an earth map,
technically, all non-people units (think tanks, transports, etc), are
technically spaceships, since they would be outside the earth's
atmosphere(!). 

My point? Perhaps we shouldn't read too much into definitions.

Now, with regards to 'colour/color, potAYto, potAHto'.... At least we aren't
as confused as those brits, who for some reason have decided to call trucks
"lorries". (Go figure).


>>>My dictionary (the American Heritage Electronic Dictionary) says it's
>>>either "spaceship" (preferred) or "space ship", but not "space-ship".

>>*American* dictionary.. therefore, it is totally useless.  You yankees can't
>>even spell 'colour', or 'favourite'. ;-)

> If you prefer, the Encyclopaedia *Britannica* doesn't even have an entry
> for "spaceship" -- they call it a "spacecraft".