Do you remember trains with cowcatchers? They were on the front of the train engine to scoop cows standing on the tracks. It supposedly stopped a lot of crashes.
If you walked rather than rode your horse you went shank's mare. It is sometimes called shanks pony.
Widderdhins is s Low German term for against the way. It usually means to go counter-clockwise.
Belly bands were wrapped around a new baby's middle. It was believed to prevent a hernia.
Rubbering in was what snoopy people did on a party line. There used to be more than one telephone on one line all connected to each other. Etiquette was to not listen to conversations on another phone or rubber in.
An early jukebox was called a nickelodeon because it took a nickel to operate.
Beginning in the 1920's 'Hepcats' (meaning someone who listened to jazz) wore zoot suits.
Quicksilver is another name for liquid mercury.
Homes used to have a chamber pot. It was kept under the bed and used if the person needed to relieve themselves at night so they did not have to walk all the way to the outhouse.
Peanuts are a good snack. Did you know they are Goober Peas?
When I was in high school the sack dress was popular. It was dress that had no waistline. It was just straight up and down. It is sometimes called a chemise.
A western saddle has a saddle horn. It is an extension of the pommel of the saddle that a cowboy uses to anchor his rope when roping cattle.
Sinister means on the left. No wonder people who were left-handed were considered to be sinister. Sinister has also become to be associated with evil. In the past left-handed people were considered to be evil. Often a left-handed person was persecuted as a witch.
Shmoos loved humans. They were more than happy to provide us with eggs, leather, and butter from their own bodies. They would even be thrilled to become a nice steak dinner.
Are there any obscure terms you have a fondness for? I would love to learn them.
No comments:
Post a Comment