Earlier "jinks" = "jinx" (1904-7)

Douglas G. Wilson douglas at NB.NET
Mon Apr 4 00:31:31 UTC 2005


Earlier on this list I posted a 1907 example of "jinx".

Here are (I think) early examples of the same word "jinks" (the same word,
alternative spelling).

----------

_Los Angeles Times_, 11 Aug. 1904: p. A3:

<<The Cincinnati team has done with Mike Donlin for good, and it is not
likely that this ex-Californian will cut much ice from now on. That term in
jail put the jinks on Donlin.>>

----------

_Washington Post_, 9 July 1905: p. B3:

<<

[title] Long Time Between Orders.

 From the San Francisco Chronicle.

They both represented big Eastern establishments and were talking shop in
front of the counter in the Palace Hotel office.

"How's business? Getting many orders?" asked the stout man.

"More than I can handle," said the short man. "How's it with you? Had any
orders lately?"

"Well, business is pretty good. I haven't had an order for a year and a
half, but I expect to get one next fall," said the stout man.

At which point Chief Clerk Brownell came out of his trance and became
possessed of an irrepressible curiosity. Calling the short man aside, he said:

"Who's your stout friend?"

"Traveling man," said the short citizen.

"Well, he certainly has put the jinks on me. What's his line?"

"Suspension bridges."

 >>

----------

_Los Angeles Times_, 17 Oct. 1907: p. I7:

<<While Commencer Quigg was trying to get the Smithy Kanes away from the
barrier in the pennant race at Chutes Park, yesterday, he recited a lot of
Hiawatha blank verse that put the jinks on the bunch. Bill Devereaux
stopped and listened, and then the visitors looked at one another. They
seemed to be dazed after that .... / The hoodoo that Quigg put on the
Smithys was the declaration to them in the first of the second inning, to
use a little "harmonious activity." .... Burns was probably as much of a
Jonah as Quigg's words, for the enemy had no chance. ....>>

----------

BTW, all of these are from the West, as are other instances from 1907-9 (A.
Mutt in HDAS, and my earlier post
http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0401D&L=ads-l&P=R1673).

-- Doug Wilson



More information about the Ads-l mailing list