Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-15
Origin OF Slang.

Origin OF Slang.
From the New York Star.
The tendency Of the Americans is and has
been for many years toward quaint and ex-
pressive ''slang" for the terse expression of
thought. A few years ago it was popularity
supposed that only the lower classes Of society
lnduiged in this form of expression, but it seems
at present to pervade all grades, and the young
lady OF Murray Hin will talk of ''tips" at Je-
rome PARK In most nOnchalant way, and sug-
gests that you take tumble or .'give US a
rest with the most ingram of Gothams coarser
workings.
Tracing these popular slang phrases to their
origin constitutes an interesting study and often
leads the explorer into the deepest depths Of
literature. Doubtless thousands of persons
have heard the expression, 'swhat viii Mrs
Grundy say?" yet not one in thousand is aware
that 1t is found in the first scene of the first act
OF Morton's favorite comedy, 'Speed the Pillow. :"
TOO thin" is often heard when the nearer
wishes to express disbelief in a story; and it
may be found in ''Peregrine Pickle" which was
published In London in 1761. The expression
Is also to be found in Shakespeare's
Henry VIII, scene of act v.
"An cry and no wool" very common slang
OF Buffers "Hudibras' The original reads
cor shear swine, all cry and no wool"
sFOr the very Often-heard expression, "What
are you giving me?" indicative of disbelief-nO
less source than the Bible is responsible. It
may be found in the 3Sth chapter OF Genesis.
BY slightly twisting the words sin pejus
ruere," in that good old Latin author, Virgil
we arrive at the saying, ''To go to the bad"
"Hes BRICK" indicates that the person spoken
OF is "gOOd fellow" and dates from an ex-
preston of King Ageslaus, who, on certain
occasion pointing to his army, said: ''They are
the walls of Sparta. Every man there is a
brick"
"There's millions in it," comes from Mark
Twain's novel, 'The Golden Age" and Bret
Harte is responsible for ways that are dark
and tricks that are vain,' Many Of the slang
phrases in use are local. New York is RESPONSE
BILE for 'sYou bet your boots" eyes, stree,
horse-fy:" knights of the green CLOTH" and q
thousand like expressions"
Twenty-Five years ago one of the popular
phrases was ''Syksey, take the butt" 1t had
its origin in an expression by Frank Chanfrau
as ''Mose" in Life in New York." very popu-
lar play at that period. "By large majority"
is found in Woolf's play of ''The Mighty Dollar"
'Step down and out" is attributed to Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, and ''Not for Joe' is the
refrain of London cOncert-hall song which was
born in Indiana.
From the immortal Shakespeare a great
amount of slang is derived. In "OthellO" the
bardspeaks of ''crOcodilestears" he also speaks
ola party, "and from the exclamation of "Ham-
let you cannot play upon me-" comes
truth Of the story. "He's gone on her. is only
new way Of putting 'Polonius" words re-
garding 'Hamlet's" love for "ophela," that he
was "gOne far gone"
Sewing him taffy" is popularity supposed to
be of recent origin, but it is really two hundred
years old, and has been in use in London for
fully that period.
Among the men of note Of the past decade
who have contributed to the slang of the period
ma no AnJr Toh
promise, "Tll be your Moses" is still heard,
''ShOO fly" was originated with Ben Butler as
applied to S. s. Cox "On the ragged edge is
the offspring of the Plymouth pastor; 'Gone
where the wOodbine twneth'' was invented by
jim Fisk; $50 hell across LOTS belongs to Brig
ham Young; "where it would do the most
good" came from Cakes Ames. when speaking
OF the placing of Credit MObier stock; THE al
mighty dollar" may be found in Irving's works,
and Truthful James, comes from Bret Harte.
The regular lum tum propah capah" was
evolved from the intellectual true inwardness of
Archy Gordon, a feuilletonist and journalist of
this city.
The following conversation between couple
of newsbOys in Park row will give an idea of
the American form of the English language as
improved up to date:-
Il told that rooster to hump HIMSELF"
Did he acknowledge the cOrn?''
"'You bet If he hadn't, I'd just put
mansard over his eye"
Hold your horses hes on his muscle, and
could lay you out"
"'Not much" He's only toddy blossom
and hangs up his landlord"
That's small potatoes and if 1 was his
landlord I'd sit down On him."
8 That would be the correct thing" You
see he's bad egg. and I'll make it warm for
him. don't you forget it, "
. All right; let's take nip"
Have you got the necessary"
Yes met an old chap who was dead gone
on piety, and played innocent and he came
down with the 'rhino.'"
1t is estimated that twO-thirds of the slang
now in use originated with English tramps and
thieves and English writer's.
Among thieves there is distinct class of
slang which is in quite common use. They de-
sentence of Imprisonment as .'air
and exercise" and call drink ''ball."
parliamentary is known as a ''boarding-
school" and surgeon is termed ''bone-set-
ter" Money is known among them as ''chink,"
and policeman as a ''cOp." "Darbies" are
hand-cuffs ''earth bath" is grave and setter
nity-bOx' is the proper name for coffin
Hemp is denOminated '.neek-weed;" slung-
shot is called "neddy," while the head is
known as the ''dimple."
When man dies he is said to have clicked
the bucket" and when he is buried he is said to
have been ''put to bed with shovel
By means of this slang the thieves of various
countries can talk to each other understand
lngly, although ignorant of the language of tn
country in which they happen to be.