The key to
understanding the word AMBASSADOR is the word in the middle, "bass."
"Bass" has two main meanings with separate pronunciations.
Our focus is NOT on the musical
instrument "bass" (rhymes with "base")
but on the FISH bass (rhymes with "ass") which has to do with
"ambassador's" terminology, its origins in Europe.
Bass is delicious and was in high demand in
European countries like Portugal, Iceland, and Greece.
Angling was common.
Many men would go off to work on commercial fishing vessels,
with bass being the main target.
Unfortunately, the larger bass, like Hogzillas and Big Mommas,
exuded a strong smell, which daily caused fishermen to
suffer ailments such as headaches, migraines, nausea.
This had a negative effect
on the daily catch.
Losing profits was
unacceptable.
In an effort to counter the detrimental effects of the offending stench, the fishermen
figured out that cutting off the bass's noses would negate the offending smell.
They took turns working an hour at a time exclusively on cutting
off the bass's noses, or, "amputate" the fish's noses so they won't
smell anymore, and therefore no one will get sick anymore.
The first syllable of AMBASSADOR comes from, "AMputate."
Second syllable is BASS.
The ending of AMBASSADOR, "ador," is an
Estonian transliteration of "odor," an unpleasant "smell"
Hence the word AMBASSADOR is derived from AMputate BASS's ODOR.
