Language nerd has taken over

I finally found the article again where I read about the word origin of "nightmare". It caught my eye because it is in a way very similar to the origin of the German word "Alptraum".

The origin of both words is folklore. People (both English and German) believed that nightmares were caused by evil spirits (incubi or succubi, an Alp/Alb) that sat on the sleeper´s chest (because you have a stifling feeling in your chest when you're having a nightmare). An incubus is a male monster and succubus the female version and both are known to evoke sexual feelings in their victims. (And they suck out their victims´ souls while seducing them. Soul for Sex.)

Now, Alp/Alb is gender neutral. And can be a more general word for evil spirits of this type. But the English equivalent uses "mare". Apart from my confusion about how you can make the mindjump from "female evil spirits who steals your soul via sex" to "mare", I'm wondering, why the female? Why did they not choose "stallion"? Where men more often haunted by nightmares? Were the people just being misogynistic again? (Probably.)

And I digressed. Because I just noticed the "mare" thing. I was mostly pleasantly surprised that both words have the same origin.

Pointless post is pointless.

(no subject)

So, I completely forgot to post my happy Knoll fic on ff.net, which I did now XD. And here's also a link to the new chapter of my lover's challenge, which contains sexy times (Geoffrey/Elincia sexy tiems). I've wanted to post it, but I forgot. So no surprises here XD

Now, let's go back to my paper and work like a BOSS. And then Daddy Vigarde.

Oh, almost forgot another thing. Yesterday, shortly before falling a sleep, I had a fic idea. Unfortunately I already forgot half of it. But it was about Fado and Vigarde and their last fight in Renais Castle. With Fado being awesome and Viggy being all zombie-like. And halfDK- Lyon being clingy and dependent. Fun tiems.

EDIT: WHAT IS THIS? WHY CAN "VANITY" MEAN WASHSTAND IN AMERICA? I... I am so tempted to use this meaning and fuck everyone over. Just for the lulz. PS: Oxford Dictionary says it's a "dressing table" in North America. WTF?