Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-11-27
SLANG AND JARGON.


rfason for existence, q popular but un-
authorized word, phrase or mode of OK
w0ssioni Tho jus1n Of some particular
calling or class in socitty.
I'm Other words anything IN The way
Of word on express on not in tho diction-
airy is ''slang " When by reason of long
continued popularity and general usage
80 Is dccmCd worthy Of n place I'm the
textbook and authority of the language
IL coascs 60 be SLANG.
It Is from tho iargon Of particular
callings cr classes in society that tho
English language IS slowly but steadily
enriched. The slang phrase Grst becomes
diguihed with the ttrm idiom, and then
&c yreers into tho now dictionary
Not an slang is destined to this
cpothcosil Much of it is cphcmetal. A
ueat deal Of r. Is meaningless. silly or
weak and dies in its childhood Actor
folk nro given to tho invention of new
phrases moro or les expressive, but short
Lived. "The g:o7t walks is ono of tho
few instances of tho iargon Of stagcland.
The theatrical torn of makeup" il
now in general ueo as descriptive or
auythingstrikirg inporsonal adornmeut,
referring to tho cloihing and not to o
disguise or enhancement Of tho features
as originally. Song and dance men,
acrobats, gCrio comics. sketch teams and
the lower order Of theatrical folk in-
dulgo in slang that renders their con-
yersation almost unintelligibie For in
stance, some knockout artist was struck
by tho similarity Of tho words pardon
aud pudding, and 20 his bright mind
the transition to "tapioca" was not diff
hcult, but there IS no probability that
the expression beg your tapioca" will
supplant ~ bog your pardon" i'm the
language OF the polito world.
Tho song and dance man may DO ox-
cused in summer days Of bankruptcy in
calling the mau with money, willing to
spend it Tor rglrcshment. IN ''angel,
and this expression may i'm timo creep
the ancient term Of 'suckor' will suf- |
lice.
Circus slang was the ~forerunncr of
the jargon of the variety stage, and in
the good days when the ''gaslit city Of
tents WA planted upon every village
green the circus folk had n language all
most their own.
The roots OF their vcrraculur wcro tic
various parts Of the toni and equipment
OF Che show. The boss Of the show wat
called the "main guy, f" and tbis express
sion has to q certain exttmtsurvived the
decline Of tho circus, and the 'main
guy is frequently heard Of in work
shops.
Tho great cattle ranges OF tto west
have given tho world the tcsm round
up" It originally referred to the an
nual gathering together of tho cattle of
various owners that they might be sepa-
rated for shipment. Today in the bust
ness wo,,d IL indicates an inquiry into
the affairs Of a flrih or corporation and
has really the Significance Of stock tax
ing.
Thieves have q gibbcrish so extensive
as 10 almost constitute q language. It is
only understood among themselves and
by philemon, who ro forced to acquire
the knowledge Of its meaning. Many Of
the terms that have boon in use for
years are really corruptions of the He
lrow and had thoir origin among tho
fences or depots for tho reception of
stolen goods ia London. This jargon,
while continued for years, has never oh
tanned outside of the police and criminal
Glasses.
Lost his grip is a terso, pathetic,
almost tragic term, c%onjuring up as it
does the story Of wasted ambition,
blasted hopes, ruin and despair, in all
probability originated among lodge PEG
pie. A man who had ''lost his grip
was temporarily ia a dilemma.
From the mining camps of tho far
west came struck it rich, " which now
applies to any human success; ''up the
" signifying failure; 'hard pan, -
means a solid paying basis; pc
tared .out, " which suggests n gradual
decline aud final suspension Of resources;
"gruhstrucly, " for assistance given a
business enterprise on condition q
a share in perspective or possible profits
bonanza has been a good English word
Tor 90 years, aud the Century dictionary
accepted it along with such words rs
fbooin, y meaning to manufacture sup
port and enthusiasm. and ''squeal,
meaning to confess and b9tray compan-
ions.
From the railroad yards came
Switched, with the meaning OF di-
verified; ''s~ideiracked," for temporary
and suspension, the result of ont
side interference; "ditchcd, {" as express
ing ruin and collapse and "wide open"
iame from tho locomotive, which re-
to tho throttle and tho extreme
# speed. Row &c means ia fun swing.
reckless and regardless Of intcrforonca.
'Out of sight" Is am a-nnchr0nism, as
motins plainly in sight, aud it Is
rowing more and more IN favor ovory
as q synonym for tho suporlativo in
appearance. accomplishment or perform
inoe. It was the balloon soaring toward
sly that was lrst declared out of
light, and then came the adaptation Of
his new form Of expressing altitude
aud exemption from competition. For ,
Instance when Assomblyman Joseph
llhill appears with his fearfuliy and !
sondcrfully plaided trousers, which ara ,
said to have drowned the roar Of the
'urf 10 Manhattan Beach. his admiring
constituents cry out: "Got onto Cahil's
lantsi They are out of 6ightl'
The race track has given Us 'cinch, "
q meaning something settled beyond al {
l0ubt % p~eradvanture. A oinch Is "a Z
addle girth. frightened By tho Spanish
OF a complicated knot that win
.ot come united. Hence cinch, or sure
hing. oinchcd, or all settled before
and, can't lose sabefZENchange '
Helsn N. st0ddard. president OF tho
" q a. u, has boon for tho