Great article...

[fernando]

Hola Nelito

Originally Posted by celtan

... In fact, my grandad in Galicia used to call me that, on account of my being tall and thin. ...

He he he ...So we start getting acquainted with your format

Originally Posted by celtan

... OTOH, it might be that the involvement in North Africa of both Spain and Portugal brought that word home from it being used there ...

The term comes from the old french espringarde, a stone throwing ballista, via the italian spingarda.

Fernando