Parasols Redux

[steepholm]

By coincidence - or perhaps because writing yesterday's post sensitised me to the possibility? - as I was walking home along the Gloucester Rd this morning I met another white woman carrying a parasol. Or possibly a light-coloured umbrella. At twenty yards' distance our eyes locked in mutual affirmation, and we stopped to congratulate each other (and, by extension, ourselves) on our sagacity. I suppose this is how Morris Minor drivers feel when they flash each other on the road.

It occurs to me that umbrellas must have been used to keep the sun off before anyone thought of using them against the rain, given the etymology of their name. When did that extension of their use occur, I wonder?

Comments

[thistleingrey]

Thank you!