The Yellowstone journal., 1894-10-26
SLANG AND JARGON.
ORIGIN OF WORDS THAT BECOME A
PART OF OUR LANGUAGE.

Dosne Are Ephemerai, but Others Retain
Their Popularity CaIIings Con-
tribute to This wordmakins-some Well
Known Examples.
Slang.-A new word that has no Just
reason for existence; popular but un-
authorized word, phrase or mode of ex-
preston; the jargon of some particular
calling or class in society Webster.
In other words, anything in the way
Of word or expression not in the diction-
ary is ''slang When by reason of long
continued popularity and general usage
IT is deemed worthy Of a place in the
textbook and authority of the language,
it ceases TO be slang
1t is from the jargon Of particular
callings or classes in society that the
English language is slowly but steadily
enriched. The slang phrase first becomes
dignified with the term idiom, and then
IL creeps into the new dictionary.
Not all slang is destined to this
apotheosis. Much of it is ephemeral A
great deal of it is meaningless, silly or
weak and dies in its childhood. Actor
folk are given to the invention of new
lived. The ghost walks is one of the
few instances of the jargon of stageland.
The theatrical term of makeup is
now in general use as descriptive of
anything striking inpersonal adornment,
referring to the clothing and not to a
disguise or enhancement of the features
~ originally. Song and dance men,
acrobats, serio comics, sketch teams and
the lower order of theatrical folk in
dulge in slang that renders their con-
versation almost unintelligible. For in
stance. some knockout artist was struck
by the similarity of the words pardon
and pudding, and to his bright mind
the transition to ''tapioca" was not diff
fcult. but there is no probability that
the expression BEG your tapioca" will
supplant - beg your pardon" in the
language of the polite world.
The song and dance man may be ex-
oused in summer days of bankruptcy in
calling the man with money, willing to
spend it for rofreshment, an ''an1el, {"
and this expression may in time creep
into the language. but for the present
the ancient term Of sucker" will suf-
fee.
Circus slang was the forerunner of
the jargon of the variety stage, and in
the good days when the ''gaslit city of
tents" was planted upon every village
green the circus folk had language al
most their own.
The roots Of their vernacular were the
various parts of the tent and equipment
of the show. The boss of the show was
called the 'main guy" E" and this expires.
sion has to a certain extent survived the
decline of the circus, and the ''main
guy" is frequently heard of in work
shops
The great cattle ranges of the west
have given the world the term round
up" 1t originally referred to the an
nual gathering together of the cattle of
various owners that they might be sepa-
rated for shipment. Today in the bust
ness world il indicates an inquiry into
the affairs of a firm or corporation and
has really the significance of stock tax
ing.
Thieves have a gibberish so extensive
as to almost constitute a language. II is
only understood among themselves and
by policemen, who are forced TO acquire
the knowledge of its meaning. Many of
the terms that have been in use for
years are really corruptions of the He
brew and had their origin among the
fences" or depots for the reception of
stolen goods in London This jargon,
while continued for years, has never OBJ
tained outside of the police and criminal
classes.
Lost his grip" is a terse. pathetic
almost tragic term, conJuring up rs 1t
does the story of wasted ambition.
blasted hopes, ruin and despair, in all
probability originated among lodge peo-
pie. A man who had "lost his grip
was temporarily in dilemma
From the mining camps of the far
west came struck it rich, " which now
applies to any human success; up the
fiume, sIgnifying failure; hard PAN"
which means solid paying basis; pc
tered out, =" which suggests a gradual
decline and final suspersion of resources;
''grubstruck, for assistance given q
new business enterprise on condition Of
q share in perspective or possible profits.
Bonanza has been good English word
for 20years, and the Century dictionary
accepted it along with such words as
"boom, meaning to manufacture sup
port and enthusiasm. and "squeal,"
meaning TO confess and betray compan-
ions
From the railroad yards came |
switched, with the meaning of di- |
verted; "sidetracked, for temporary
failure and suspension, tho result of out |
side interference; "ditched, as express
ing ruin and collapse, and wide open"
came from the locomotive, which re-
ferred to the throttle and the extreme |
OF speed. Now it means in full swing. |
reckless and regardless Of interference.
"Out of signt" is an anach-onism, as
IL means plainly in sight, and it is
growing more and more in favor every |
day - q synonym for the superlative in
appearance. accomplishment or perform