Unless he means 'free, like paper napkins'

[major_clanger]

I've already been (humorously, I hope) pedantic on a mailing list today about 'compliment' vs 'complement', but I now see this report about Prince Charles' interests.

The prince has championed a number of causes, some of them controversial, including hunting and complimentary medicine.

If 'complimentary medicine' involves patients and medical staff being polite to one another, then not only am I all for it but I am rather dismayed to see it thought of as something that might raise eyebrows!

Comments

[mkillingworth.livejournal.com]

That's your meeja hacks at work, that is. They don't need to know how to spell it. They've got spool chickens for that.

[cosmic-anchovy.livejournal.com]

I'm never going to live it down now, am I? Oh well, I call it a symptom of my generation... although I do actually *know* the correct usage, thank you very much Mr. Clanger! :) Still going with my coughing fit defence.