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donkey

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | © The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

donkey the donkey was used as a beast of burden, and traditionally taken as a type of stupidity. In the story of Balaam, the diviner's falsity is emphasized by the fact that he is unable to see the divine messenger that is visible even to his donkey. (See also in this context ass in a lion's skin, Buridan's ass.)

A donkey, representing the deliberate eschewing of a horse that might have symbolized martial and worldly power, was the animal on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

The word was originally pronounced to rhyme with monkey, and may come from dun ‘dull greyish-brown’, or from the given name Duncan.
donkeys' years an informal expression for a very long time, recorded from the early 20th century, and with punning allusion to the length of a donkey's ears.

See also lions led by donkeys.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "donkey." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 19 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "donkey." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 19, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-donkey.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "donkey." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-donkey.html

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