Names, of people or of things, have a practical everyday aspect. But, there's also historical and geographical aspects.
Meanings change, as time goes by. Also, different cultures interprete things differently.
Here's a brief overview of the many varying meanings of "Mads" and "Dam"...
"Mads" is a modern version of "Mettes"
(from old danish and low german).
Originally greek Mattias and Matthaeus.
Mattias (apostelname Matthias).
Greek version of hebrew Mattijah.
Name day February 24.
Matthaios (Matthæus, biblical name).
Name day September 21.
Mattijah (Jehovas gift).
Mattaj (Jehovas gift).
The english phrase "or I'm a dutchman"
is in danish: "eller du må kalde mig Mads"
(=Or you may call me Mads).
"If that happens I'll eat my hat" also translates to
"eller du må kalde mig Mads"
(=Or you may call me Mads).
MADS box is a conserved sequence element found in a family of transcription factor encoding genes, the MADS-box gene family.
Read more...
M.A.D.S. = Malta Association of Dental Students. Read more: madsonline.org.
M.A.D.S. = Macclesfield Amateur Dramatic Society,
a British amateur drama company, founded in 1947.
Dam is the danish name of the board game Draughts (but the americans call it Checkers).
In danish "dam" is a small lake, e.g. a duck-pond.
"Sortedam Dossering" is located in Copenhagen.
(I grew up there, and I still remember all the ducks.)
"Ruter Dam" means Queen of hearts.
"Dam" is an embankment.
"The devil and his dam" is a popular phrase.
Two cities: Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Two villages are called Dam.
In korean "dam" means: wall, enclosure, fence.
In Crimean Tatar "dam" means: stable, roof.
DAM = Digital Art Museum. Read more: www.dam.org
D.A.M. = Direct Action Movement
Dam is an abbreviation of Dekameter (=10 meter).
Light spends 10/299792458 seconds crossing this distance.