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Illegitimi non carborundum
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Illegitimi non carborundum is a
mock-Latin aphorism jokingly taken to mean "don't let the bastards grind you down". There are many variants of the phrase, such as
- Non illegitimis carborundum.
- Illegitimi nil carborundum.
- Non illegitimi carborundum.
- Nil bastardo carborundum.
- Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
- Illegitimis non carborundum.
None of the above is correct Latin.
Carborundum is not a Latin word but the brand name of a commercial abrasive originating in the
19th century (see
silicon carbide article). The ending
-undum suggests a Latin
gerund form, but the word is actually a
portmanteau of "
carbon" (from
Latin), and "
corundum" (from
Tamil kurundam).
Illegitimi suggests
illegitimate to the English speaker, or
bastardo likewise, but the Latin for bastard is actually
nothus (from the Greek word
notho (
νόθο) meaning
not-pure, and used when referring to a bastard whose father is known) or
spurius (for a bastard whose father is unknown). The forms with
nil may be formed partly on the pattern of the genuine Latin phrase
Nil desperandum.
The phrase originated during
World War II.
Lexicographer Eric Partridge attributes it to British army intelligence very early in the war (in the plural
illegitimis). The phrase was adopted by US Army general
"Vinegar" Joe Stillwell as his motto during the war.
[1] It was later further popularized in the US by
1964 presidential candidate
Barry Goldwater.
[2]
I thought this might be a latin quote. It means: "Be unwilling You Bastardes Carborundorum" in latin. I think I must have the wrong language...Time for a homebrew.
