Mike wrote:
"Dah" wrote in message
...

"I'm staying while 5 o'clock." would puzzle many. ("I'm staying until 5
o'clock.")

. . . and caused serious injuries to the poor soul at the railway
crossing who obeyed the sign WAIT WHILE (until) SIGNALS ARE FLASHING



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Pardon?

Please explain

Mike Crowe F.E.P.



Mike,

In many parts of the North, the word while used to be synonymous with
until, at least when I was in school. Consequently, instead of waiting
whilst the signals were flashing, warning that a train was approaching,
the poor soul waited while (until) they were flashing and proceed to
cross the tracks. It was a schoolteacher who related the anecdote to
enlighten us to the confusion of the words.

To further confuse the issue, "while" was reduced to "well".

Hope this helps.