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matt vs. matte
Usually, the UK English users use French spellings (i.e. theatre) (and sometimes words, i.e. courgette), compared to American English users (i.e. theater). This accounts for many of the spelling differences between the languages. In painting, however, I have, for the first time, found an instance where what looks the reverse of this is true. In the UK, it's "matt" paint, while in the U.S. "matte" is the usual spelling. What does Canadian English do for this?

to cut in
Off the top of my head, "to cut in" refers to intrusive cars and the combination of flour and fat. Clearly, it refers to painting around the edge of wall fixtures, such as electrical outlets/sockets too. The OED mentions whale fat (but in the sense of getting rid of, not including, the fat), but not butter, and certainly not paint, in its 8 types of "to cut in".
55. cut in.
a. trans. To carve or engrave in intaglio.
b. Whale-fishery. To cut up (a whale) so as to remove the blubber.
c. intr. To penetrate or enter sharply or abruptly; esp. so as to make a way for oneself or occupy a position between others. In later use also, to drive a motor-vehicle between two others which are passing each other in opposite directions; more recently, to drive a motor vehicle, cycle, etc., past another and move sharply in front of the overtaken vehicle. Also transf.
d. To interpose or interrupt abruptly in conversation or the like; to strike in. So cut into for cut in to. spec. To have one's name added to a lady's dancing programme; also (orig. U.S.), to supersede a partner during a dance.
e. Card-playing. To join in a game (of whist) by taking the place of a player cutting out q.v.
f. To receive a share (of profits, booty, etc.); also trans. (orig. U.S.), to give (a person) a share; freq. with on. slang.
g. trans. To connect (an electric circuit, etc.). Also intr. of a motor.
h. trans. To insert (a scene) into a film sequence. Also transf.

[livejournal.com profile] desperance suggests an origin having to do with wallpaper (which would involved actual cutting) which was then extrapolated to include paint.

spackling
In the US, one spackles a hole in the wall before painting. What verb does one do with Polyfilla? Or does one not verb it?
There are 18 comments on this entry. (Reply.)
 
posted by [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_nicolai_/ at 11:35pm on 16/06/2008
One fills holes with Polyfilla. One does not verb it.
Edited Date: 2008-06-16 11:35 pm (UTC)
 
posted by [identity profile] ewtikins.livejournal.com at 11:40pm on 16/06/2008
I grew up with 'matte' but as I am a sample of one it is hard to say whether that is correct.

 
posted by [identity profile] a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com at 12:07am on 17/06/2008
I wonder if it is because one is supposed to used a sharp-edged brush? And one moves from the perimeter to the inside.

I fill holes OR spackle, no matter the filling substance (my current fave is one that goes on pink, and dries white, so you know it's fully dried before painting!)
 
posted by [identity profile] matrygg.livejournal.com at 03:53am on 17/06/2008
That stuff is totally awesome, and it matches that sort of cheapass sprayer white that most apartments are painted around here. When I bought some, I freaked out that it was pink but trusted them, and it dried to the exact shade of white of my walls. I was totally impressed.
 
posted by [identity profile] noncalorsedumor.livejournal.com at 03:51pm on 17/06/2008
My household is also fond of the pink-then-white spackle.
 
posted by [identity profile] pfy.livejournal.com at 12:36am on 17/06/2008
When I see 'matte' in connection with painting, my first thought is of the special effects technique using painted glass plates. I did not know that American English also used that spelling in the context of non-glossy paint.

I polyfilla holes, but I probably verb more nouns than most people. Both 'Spackle' and 'Polyfilla' are brand names, though, so they ought to be equally acceptable as verbs. I think the non-proprietary term is, rather boringly, just 'fill'.
ext_4917: (cheshiremad - crazy)
posted by [identity profile] hobbitblue.livejournal.com at 02:04am on 17/06/2008
..verbing weirds nouns *nods*
 
posted by [identity profile] pfy.livejournal.com at 02:32pm on 17/06/2008
"First they came for the verbs, and I said nothing because verbing weirds
language. Then they arrival for the nouns, and I speech nothing because I
no verbs."

(Peter Ellis in alt.fan.pratchett)
 
posted by [identity profile] haggisthesecond.livejournal.com at 06:49am on 17/06/2008
I would probably fill a hole in a wall.
 
posted by [identity profile] desperance.livejournal.com at 10:20am on 17/06/2008
I confess, I have been known to polyfill. But I'm not proud of it.
 
posted by [identity profile] justinsomnia.livejournal.com at 11:01am on 17/06/2008
You can verb anything!

Also, I bet some people use the term "spackle" even if they're not using actual Spackle.
gillo: (Amélie)
posted by [personal profile] gillo at 01:42pm on 17/06/2008
You fill holes with Polyfilla. I always assumed "spackle" was a variant spelling of "speckle" and referred to that multicoloured speckled finish you get on some institutional walls.

I think you "cut in" when painting because you have to use a sharp-edged brush. And a very steady hand. My husband always insists on loosening light switches etc so you can paint behind them properly. Few are as
anal
meticulous as he is, though.
 
posted by [identity profile] sam-t.livejournal.com at 03:32pm on 17/06/2008
But the point about taking the plate off is that you don't have to be meticulous! You can just slosh the paint around without worrying about masking tape or whether everyone will believe that you really meant to have a blue polka-dot lightswitch.
 
posted by [identity profile] noncalorsedumor.livejournal.com at 03:52pm on 17/06/2008
I'm surprised that the OED lacks the paint-related definition of cutting in!
 
posted by [identity profile] andromakie.livejournal.com at 05:04pm on 17/06/2008
I always thought it was matte, I didn't realise it was different in England. Good thing the kids I was teaching were too young to need that word.

And I don't spackle/polyfil anything. I make someone else do it.
 
posted by [identity profile] 4ll4n0.livejournal.com at 01:49am on 18/06/2008
Personally the use of "cut in" that I most recognize is the one associated with dancing. "Mind if I cut in."

I'll check my Canadian OED (Self proclaimed foremost authority on Canadian English) about Matt vs. Matte.
 
posted by [identity profile] 4ll4n0.livejournal.com at 03:04am on 19/06/2008
Well my Canadian Oxford tells me that "matt" is a variant spelling esp. Brit., so apparently Canadians default to "matte."
owlfish: (Default)
posted by [personal profile] owlfish at 08:07am on 19/06/2008
Thanks for checking!

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