Our misuse of the term "obtuse"

Since we are not sitting in a geometry class (shudder) I don't think that the 90 to 180 degree definition is appropriate. When I talk about an obtuse knife edge I generally mean anything above 25 degrees (12.5 degree honing angle). When I say acute I generally mean something appropriate for a straight razor (less than 15 degrees). When I say doorstop, I mean something over 30 degrees.
 
Jeff Clark said:
Since we are not sitting in a geometry class (shudder) I don't think that the 90 to 180 degree definition is appropriate. When I talk about an obtuse knife edge I generally mean anything above 25 degrees (12.5 degree honing angle). When I say acute I generally mean something appropriate for a straight razor (less than 15 degrees). When I say doorstop, I mean something over 30 degrees.
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Wrong on count #1, correct (sort of) on 2 & 3. How can a definition be inappropriate when it is, in fact, a fact? Are we looking at different dictionaries?

Buzz
 
Proper English just ain't more important than getting the idea across. :)

Well said! Dog Of War.
 
Jeff Clark said:
When I say acute I generally mean something appropriate for a straight razor (less than 15 degrees). When I say doorstop, I mean something over 30 degrees.
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door·stop
Pronunciation[dawr-stop, dohr-]

–noun 1. a device for holding a door open, as a wedge or small weight.
2. Also called slamming stile, stop. (in a doorframe) a strip or projecting surface against which the door closes.
3. a device for preventing a door from striking a wall or an object on a wall, as a small rubber-covered projection.

Ahhh - door stop = a cold steel product :o
 
I have to admit that I was confused when I first started seeing that used. In my mind I briefly wondered if the blade had only been profiled and not had the bevels ground.

Something else that I've been seeing a lot of lately, and it just drives me crazy is the use of "bring" instead of "take". "Bring (insert item here) with you on the jungle trip." Unless you're going on the jungle trip also, it's "take (insert item here) with you on the jungle trip".

While I agree that getting the point across is paramount, using sloppy English to do it usually adds to the confusion.
 
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