The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, Fourth Edition (Facts on File Writer's Library)

961 Pages·2008·10.07 MB·English

by  Robert Hendrickson

THE FACTS ON FILE
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
W
ORD AND
P
HRASE
O
RIGINS
Fourth Edition

THE FACTS ON FILE
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
W
ORD AND
P
HRASE
O
RIGINS
Fourth Edition
ROBERT HENDRICKSON
To my son Brian
for his invaluable help
8
Th e Facts On File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2008 by Robert Hendrickson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems,
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Facts On File, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cata loging- in- Publication Data
Hendrickson, Robert, 1933–
Th e Facts on File encyclopedia of word and phrase origins /
Robert Hendrickson.—4th ed., [Updated and expanded ed.].
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-8160-6966-8 (alk. paper)
1. English language—Etymology—Dictionaries. 2. English language—Terms and phrases.
I. Title. II. Title: Encyclopedia of word and phrase origins.
PE1689.H47 2008
422'.03—dc22
2007048223
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Th is book is printed on acid- free paper and contains
30 percent postconsumer recycled content.
C
ONTENTS
8
Preface to the Fourth Edition vii
Preface to the Original Edition ix
Abbreviations for the Most Frequently
Cited Authorities xi
Entries A–Z 1
Index 921

P
reface to the
f e
ourth dition
8
In writing, or compiling, this book, I have again tried to Perhaps I have erred in devoting too much space to fas-­
include as many new selections as possible, if only to cinating but speculative stories about word origins, but I
make it one of the most complete American works on the don’t think so, for the wildest of theories often turn out to be
subject (15,000 entries and still counting). The fabulous Ox- correct ones. In any case, while no good tale here is omitted
merely because it isn’t 100 percent true, I’ve tried to at the
ford En­glish Diction­ary, however, still far outdistances any
very least include as many plausible theories about the ori-­
contender in the field, covering some 600,000 words and
gins of these words as possible.
phrases and taking a full 40 years to produce. No doubt
Many fine scholars have contributed unusual words and
those tenacious O.E.D. people will be doing the same thing
phrases to this fourth edition, including Professor Masayoshi
again a century from now.
Yamada, trustee and professor of linguistics at Japan’s Shi-­
Foreign sources won’t be ignored in this new fourth edi-­
mane University, for his explanations of the numerous forms
tion. Neither will timely words, U.S. dialects, technical words,
of “Japanized” English.
slang words, sports words, echoic words, coined words,
In closing, many thanks are due to my editors, Jeff
eponymous words, classical words, “war words,” and many Soloway and Anne Savarese. I should also thank the scores of
other stimulating terms. No word or phrase has been elimi-­ readers who have contributed to the book, whose names are
nated because it might offend someone’s sensibilities, and often noted in its pages.
you will find all the famous four-­letter words here (and then —R. H.
some!). Peconic, New York
vii

P O E
REFACE TO THE RIGINAL DITION
8
This book is, I believe, the longest collection of word and lobotomizers of language remind me of Kurt Vonnegut’s
phrase origins in print. dictator who eliminated noses in order to eliminate odors.
In any case, I’ve tried to make all the selections as accu- Th ough there has been a renewed general interest in word
rate and entertaining as possible and tried to use words il- origins r ecently—thanks mainly to magazines like Verba-
lustrating all of the many ways words and phrases are born tim, the work of Stuart Berg Flexner, Professor Frederic
(words deriving from the numerous languages and dialects Cassidy’s monumental Dictionary of American Regional En-
that have enriched Eng lish, echoic words, coined words, glish, or DARE, and William Safi re’s excellent and entertain-
slang, words from the names of places, people, animals, oc- ing syndicated column “On Language”—etymology remains
cupations, leisure activities, mispronunciations, e tc.). Yet in something less than an exact science. Scholars like Professor
the fi nal analysis any selection from such a vast semantic Gerald Cohen of the University of M issouri-R olla do devote
treas ure h ouse (the 5–10 million or so general and technical years and pages enough for a book in scientifi cally tracking
Eng lish words) must be highly subjective. Perhaps I have down the origins of a single word, but a great number of the
erred in devoting too much space to fascinating but specu- word derivations on record amount to little more than edu-
lative stories about word origins, but I don’t think so, for the cated guesswork. I agree, however, with the late, great, and
wildest theories oft en later turn out to be the correct ones. “always game” word detective Eric Partridge that even a
In any case, while no good tale is omitted merely because it guess is better than nothing—even if it’s just inspired fun, or
isn’t true, where stories are apocryphal or doubtful, they are if it merely stimulates thinking that leads eventually to the
clearly labeled so. I’ve tried to include as many plausible expression’s true origin.
theories about the origins of each expression as possible and Th e debts for a work of this nature and length are so nu-
also attempted to show the fi rst recorded use of a word or merous that specifi c thanks must be confi ned to the many
phrase wherever possible, something lacking in many word sources noted in the text, and due to space limitations even
books but a great, sometimes indispensable, help to anyone these are only a relative handful of the works I have consult-
using the work as a linguistic or historical reference. Th e ed. On a personal note, however, I would like to thank my
only limitations I have imposed are those of importance and editor, Gerard Helferich, for all his herculean labors (just
interest. Some expressions, no matter how prosaic the stories toting the manuscript about was a herculean labor), and of
behind them, have been included because they are common- course my wife, Marilyn—this book, like every line I write,
ly used; on the other hand, interesting and unusual expres- being as much hers as mine. Nevertheless, despite all the
sions have oft en been treated even if obscure or obsolete. No help I’ve gotten, any errors in these pages result from my
word or phrase has been eliminated because it might off end own w ide-r anging ignorance and are solely my responsibi-
someone’s sensibilities, and you will fi nd all the famous four- lity. Th ey cannot even be blamed on a committee or a
letter words here (and then some!). I consider myself no computer.
judge of what is or is not obscene, and such s elf-a ppointed —R. H.
ix