Misnomers are funny things. I’m not entirely sure the word “grounded” qualifies, but I’m certain some english major will correct me if I’m wrong. Either way, it was too good to pass up as a strip title.
Gnomes, in classic mythology, are typically depicted as not being especially friendly. They are akin to dwarves in that they are greedy, ground dwelling earth spirits that know metal and treasure in ways humans rarely seem to understand. The gnomes we know and love today were primarily developed by writers in the 18th and 19th centuries as characters in fairy tales. Up until that point, it appears as though gnomes and dwarves were, more or less, the same thing. Since then, they’ve been used in fantasy literature in a variety of interesting ways. My favourite iteration has to be The Nac Mac Feegle as depicted in Terry Pratchett’s The Wee Free Men. While not referred to as gnomes, they certainly are a version of the idea and they’re absolutely hilarious.
Whew! Gnome rant!
I believe this is comic #75 of Happle Tea! We’re quickly closing in on 100 strips, how exciting!
They are so cute. I want a gnome of my own haha
They look oddly like your version of Santa Claus. Hmm.
Woo! Nac Mac Feegle! Crivens!
Aw, they look like chibi-style Gandalf archetypes.
Ha ha ha. Misgnomer.
I very enjoyed this one.
Hey i really like colors that you’re using
and how are you doing this texture there? it look nice
Haha! This is one of your best comics. So awesome.
I really like what you did with the background/sky/clouds too. I’m jealous of your skillz.
hmm i dunno you sure they are gnomes? first glance i tough they were dwarves, hahahaha.
i wish i could go hunting for gems alongise some gnomes.
These new formats you’ve been doing add a whole new level of hilarity to the comic. Is it the pacing? Whatever it is, it’s really good…
The comic made me laugh. The “Misgnomer” pun made me guffaw.
Probably this OED origin:
grounded, ppl. a.1
8. Of an aeroplane, pilot, etc.: unable, or not allowed, to fly. Also transf. of sportsmen, etc., suspended, disqualified.
1939 in Amer. Speech (1955) XXX. 286 When a jockey is suspended or disqualified, he is said to be ‘grounded’. 1942 T. RATTIGAN Flare Path II. ii. 140 And on my confidential report they’d put{em}grounded. Lack of moral fibre. 1942 Amer. Speech XVII. 103/2 Grounded, license revoked [of a truck-driver]. 1954 in Amer. Speech (1955) XXX. 286 ‘We’re all grounded.’ It took only another question or two to discover that for these youths ‘grounded’ meant not having the use of the family car. 1967 Sunday Times (Colour Suppl.) 10 Sept. 45/4 Grounded, stranded for lack of petrol. Borrowed from the R.A.F.
They aren’t gnomes, they’re pictsies!
Actually, the Nac Mac Feegle technically are gnomes. There’s one in some of the later Sam Vimes/ City Watch books that’s a member of the Watch & rides a buzzard and another that’s a rat catcher. They’re referred to as gnomes, but they’re described the same way as the Nac Mac Feegle.
Sorry, Discworld is a part of my nerddom, and I had to comment.
@WanderingSeeker nerdfulness contest maybe?
gnomes and feegle are *probably* interchangeable, or maybe gnomes are “urbanised” or “declanised” feegles (having for instance lost their crowstep ability, or of course having not mentioned it due to the fact that Sir Terrence hadnt thought of it back than – infact probably the whole concept has just been evolving, Feet of clay being written ~15 years before the Tiffany series started) Anyway, THEY insist they are piCTSies.
hahaha i love this one, it’s so silly. i actually thought about it today after not having read it for like a year and looked it up. still funny!