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Old 04-08-2007, 10:58 AM
fitzo fitzo is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,926
Thank you, Ray. I am happy that I am not intruding.

After a brief survey of dictionary definitions it is apparent that the single word "custom" is specifically defined as being "to the specification of a customer". By that defintion, your narrower meaning of the word would be correct.

It becomes much more interesting, however, when the term changes to "custom-made". That definition seems to eliminate the need for a customer in that it says "made to the specifications of an individual". This would then accomodate the unique creation of the knifemaker without outside input.

That said, colloquial contractions of phrases are common in language and it would thus appear that the frequently perceived meaning behind the word "custom" is actually "custom made". It would also seem to fit with broader definitons proposed here.

It then becomes a matter of concensus whether the word is allowed to imply the phrase.

After reading through this thread, I think I have decided to simply say, "It's a knife. I made it."

Last edited by fitzo; 04-08-2007 at 11:05 AM.