Begin this installment with a surprise for my good friends in the Spanish capital. It seems difficult to find something more traditional and typically the castizo chotis Madrid, right? For the truth is that, at least from the etymological point of view, it would be rather difficult to find a foreign word that.
Among the popular dances of the British farmers, generically called country dances (or contra) in the early eighteenth century, became popular in France one from Scotland, to the accompaniment of bagpipes, and our neighbors gave the name Transpyrenean anglaise or Ecossais (Scotland).
Between 1800 and 1830, this dance, and French style, it became very popular in Germany, where musicians like Beethoven, Schubert and Chopin Ecossais composed for piano. Around the same time, and evolution of the Scottish dance had received through France, was born in Germany Ecossais variant which was named Schottische (German word meaning "Scottish") and was not fashionable more than a couple of generations, it was displaced in 1840 by the origins Czech polka.
More fortunate was this dance, the Schottische, outside the Germanic area, then walked straight across Europe to fashion a strong foothold in Spain, especially Madrid, where at the end of the last century was to become the favorite dance of chulapos and chulapas. Thus, the Schottische, chotis learn Spanish and became musical hallmark of the popular classes in Madrid and has remained so to this day, that piece is still required in any self-respecting popular festival.
These things have the etymology, so naughty, that from the German translation of the French name of a Scottish dance, can give birth to the most traditional of the words.
As for Scotland Yard, is only a small street in the heart of London, between Trafalgar Square and the Thames, housed in a palace in time to be staying the kings of Scotland (Scotland English) when attending England's capital. When, in 1829, Sir Robert Peel founded the Metropolitan Police, the first modern police force in the world, bringing its headquarters at No. 4 Whitehall Place, which opened onto the back alley of Scotland Yard, and he knew her name London town quickly.
And that name has remained until now, but for more than a century that left his former Scotland Yard Scotland Yard headquarters and modern facilities. Indeed, the Metropolitan Police in 1890 moved to a new building ("New Scotland Yard") located within walking distance, at the Victoria Embankment, and in 1967 moved again, this time a little more south of the City, near the Westminster Abbey. It is difficult, however, end with the traditions, so that despite many moves, both in England and abroad, everyone, without exception, continues to call Scotland Yard to the Metropolitan Police of London