why is a flea market called a flea market if they dont sell fleas?
2007-09-01 06:16:15 · 12 answers · asked by mrbilldunn 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
Maybe this will help you understand where the name comes from.
Flea market comes from the French marché aux puces, a name originally given to a market in Paris. The fleas were thought to be in the goods, because they were of the kind to attract vermin. The earliest English use we have found dates from 1922.
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwordorigins/flea?view=uk
2007-09-01 06:21:25 · answer #1 · answered by iammom1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question. I looked it up and this is why:
Why is it called a flea market?
This is a jocular term for an open-air or street market for mainly secondhand merchandise, which would be the type of items that might be infested with fleas. The first flea markets were in Paris and they were called marché aux puces which translates to 'market with fleas'. Flea market first appeared in English in 1922 as a translation of the French market's name. Flea is of Germanic origin (fleah) and was not spelled flea until after 1550. A synonym is flea fair.
2007-09-01 06:26:15 · answer #2 · answered by HotNurse71 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
why is a flea market called a flea market if they don't sell fleas?
why is a flea market called a flea market if they dont sell fleas?
2015-08-16 12:10:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are talking about he flea market thingy. It has no particular date but you can find out 1 week before by checking the bulletin board regularly as it often has updates on when important stuff is taking place etc
2016-03-13 08:13:45 · answer #4 · answered by Linda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard today at a castle in Vienna that markets used to have people with monkeys that people paid to take lice out of their heads since they liked to eat them. Since in the old days bathing in dirty water could kill you this was the best way to get rid of lice. Over the years with different language translations, lice changed to flea's and hence the name flea market.
2013-09-07 04:03:21 · answer #5 · answered by Eric 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why is a swing on a front porch called a front porch swing when the porch don't swing?
2015-04-08 06:58:21 · answer #6 · answered by Lewis Hughes 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_market
http://ididnotknowthatyesterday.blogspot.com/2006/03/where-did-term-flea-market-come-from.html
2007-09-01 06:27:25 · answer #7 · answered by Amy 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Because people flea to cheap things like little bugs (o_o)
2007-09-01 06:20:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?
Why are there INTER-state highways in Hawaii? WHERE are you gonna drive to?
Why do we call a building a building? We're not buildING it anymore. It's built! Why not just call it a built?
And magicgee...you mean "flee". Sheesh! Public school products!
2007-09-01 06:20:57 · answer #9 · answered by bobnotbobb 1 · 1⤊ 5⤋
The fleas are their they are not for sale---FREE
2007-09-01 06:25:25 · answer #10 · answered by Gerald 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋