A Word’s Meaning Expanded: Microsoft’s Been Googled
May 4, 2008
It’s a Sunday morning in rural Kentucky. The animals have been fed. Mammon’s satisfied with the Kentucky Derby: victory and tragedy.
In the post-race excitement in Harrod’s Creek, I pondered the one-sided flood of postings on Techmeme.com and Megite.com. The theme was the collapse of Microsoft’s plan to thwart Google via a purchase of Yahoo. I’m no business wizard. The entire deal baffled me, but I found one aspect interesting.
As the most recognized brand in the world, the word “google” is the name of a company and it is a synonym for research. It’s a noun, and it’s a very handy way to tell someone how to find an answer; for example, a person tells another, “Just google that company”.
But, the meaning of the word “google” has another dimension. Permit me to explain this
As the Microsoft-set deadline ticked to zero hour. Yahooligans tried to find a way to thwart Microsoft’s intentions. Yahoo announced a “test” with Google for ad sales. Pundits picked up the idea, expanded it, and spiced it with legal shamanism. Yahoo’s executives hinted that working with Google would be interesting.
Google, on the other hand, maintained the Googley silence that makes competitors uncertain of Google’s intentions, Wall Street analysts crazy from hints and lava lamps, and insiders chuckle while chugging Odwalla smoothies.
However, behind the scenes Google and Yahoo decided to cooperate to an as-yet unknown degree in advertising sales.
In the 11th hour meeting in Redmond, Washington, Yahoo mentioned the “g” word. Microsoft’s appetite was spoiled. The meaning of the word “google” has been dilated.
Allow me to illustrate a unary version of this expansion: Yahoo “googled” Microsoft. The meaning is derived from the verb “google” which in this context means derailed Microsoft’s ambitions by utilizing an un-Machiavellian ploy: an advertising deal.
Thus, “Microsoft’s been googled” means that “Microsoft has been given the shaft” or “Microsoft has been thwarted” or “Microsoft has been hosed”.
Synonyms for “google” in this new meaning are screw, befoul, muck up, and toy with.
By extension, we can craft this statement: Google googled Microsoft. In this usage, Google (the company) managed in Googley ways to foul up the Yahoo acquisition. Colloquially, this becomes, “Dudes, Google got you again”.
Stephen Arnold, May 4, 2008
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