Sometimes when going round a corner, a double-decker bus appears to be about to keel over. What would the angle from the vertical have to be before this would occur, and has it ever happened when passengers were on board?

A double-decker No 17 bus fell over at the junction of Gregory Boulevard and Mansfield Road in Nottingham. This happened at lunchtime on a Saturday in the early Forties, perhaps 1943 or 1944.

Roy Verrells, Whyteleafe

A bus would keel over when either the top right-hand corner is farther left than the bottom left-hand corner or the top left-hand corner is farther right than the bottom right-hand corner. This would mean an angle of displacement from the vertical of more than 45 degrees.

Martin Davies, Welshpool, Powys

The centre of gravity of the bus would have to pass to the left or right of the road wheels. Try it for yourself with objects of all shapes and sizes.

Derek Reeves, South Ockendon, Essex

Why do we refer to a square meal?

From Nelson’s time British seamen ate from a square plate. The contents were deemed sufficient, hence the expression was used in ordinary speech to indicate a satisfying and wholesome meal. The associated “three square meals a day” was taken as the indicator of an adequate intake sufficient to work and fight the ship. Therefore, in ordinary speech, an amount able to keep someone going throughout the day.

The edge of the plate was known as the fiddle. Thus another expression “on the fiddle” described those who surreptitiously took their neighbour’s share. This was a serious crime when long voyages and lack of fresh food meant rigorously allocated portions.

Ian H. Cairns, Perth

“Square meal” was originally American. According to Michael Quinion’s World Wide Words, early examples seem to have come out of miners’ slang from the western side of the country. Mark Twain, in The Innocents Abroad, refers to it as a Californian expression.

Dr James Briggs, Westbury-on-Trym

A “square meal” conveys the idea of a meal which is solid or right, substantial and satisfying. I prefer a “rounded” meal, but I am no example. Blame my mum for my tum.

Nigel Morris, Uxbridge

Sunday is the day of the Sun and Monday is the day of the Moon. When and how did Moonday lose one of its “o”s?

It is not Moonday that has lost an “o” but the Moon that has gained one. The Old English word was “mona” and may be compared with our current word “month” (OE “monath”). The two words have a very obvious link in meaning as well as form.

Roger Marjoribanks, Guildford, Surrey

Questions

During his first, wartime premiership, Sir Winston Churchill was variously photographed wearing the uniforms of an officer in the Army and Royal Air Force. What was his authorisation for doing so and why does he never, discounting the “yachting rig” of the First Civil Lord, appear to have worn naval uniform?”

D. Andrews, Fareham, Hants

When did Ralph (Ralf) become Rafe? Sir Ralph Richardson wouldn’t have recognised himself from a public adress system message.

Michael Brown, Glentham, Lincs

If someone says something irrelevant or that we disagree with, why do we say “What’s that got to do with the price of chips. . . pint of milk. . . etc”

David Wright, Derby

Can any other artefact match the violin for purpose, design, craftmanship and durability?

Kenneth Wood, Exeter

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