Red Ass (from East Texas?)

Thu Mar 29 23:26:56 UTC 2007

The earliest HDAS ex. is from a photo of a USAAF plane taken in 1944-45. The phrase "Red Ass" accompanies a cartoon jackass.

  So conceivably it's pure coincidence. On the other hand, "got (a case of) the red ass" is not uncommon in war novels set in WWII and after.  A short form, "the reds," is much less frequent.

  Cf. another phrase that I associate for some reason with Texas: "to chap someone's ass," to irritate or anger them.

  JL

Bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:
  ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Bapopik at AOL.COM
Subject: Red Ass (from East Texas?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Red ass" is not in DARE and not in the OED. HDAS?
...
Anybody from Texas use this term? It's said to be from East Texas.
...
...
...
_http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/texas/entry/red_ass/_=20
(http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/texas/entry/red_ass/)=20
...
=20
Red Ass
=20
"Red ass=E2=80=9D means to show great anger or passion. A Texas A&M Aggie wh=
o goes=20
out of the way to show Aggie spirit is another definition of =E2=80=9Cred as=
s.=E2=80=9D =20

_Urban Dictionary_=20
(http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=3Dred+ass&defid=3D1119732) =20
Red Ass=20
In Texas: one who is beyond being a bad ass, one who will do whatever it=20
takes to get the job done and will shoot first and ask questions later.=20
Don=E2=80=99t mess with Johnny, he=E2=80=99s red ass, you know.=20
by Gil Jan 12, 2005=20

_Urban Dictionary_=20
(http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=3Da+case+of+the+red+ass) =20
a case of the red ass=20
classic phrase to be heard from the very very old people in the south,=20
generally.=20
to mean pissed off. angry.=20
yo mawma sho got hahsayelf a cayas of da rayed ayss t=E2=80=99day. =20
your momma sure got herself a case of the red ass today.=20
by rachelgirlwonder denver, co Sep 23, 2005=20

_Red Ass Apparel Co._ (http://www.redassapparel.com/isell/) =20
We Texans are a proud bunch who are passionate about our great state and ou=
r=20
heritage. =20

Red Ass Apparel Co. was formed to complement the pride and passion we have=20
for this place we love, our home=E2=80=A6 TEXAS!=20

The term =E2=80=9CRed Ass=E2=80=9D is one used to express extreme passion,=20=
enthusiasm,=20
motivation, or even anger and rage. =E2=80=9CRed Ass=E2=80=9D is a term whi=
ch is as diverse as=20
the great state from which it originates.=20
Here at Red Ass Apparel Co., we show our ass every day and we hope you and=20
your folks will do the same. Enjoy your visit to this website and please se=
nd=20
it along to those you think might be interested.=20

_Wikipedia: Traditions of Texas A&M University_=20
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditions_of_Texas_A&M_University) =20
Red-ass - A term for an Aggie that goes out of their way to show their Aggi=
e=20
spirit.=20

_Google Books_=20
(http://books.google.com/books?vid=3DISBN0965842304&id=3Dor_9f4D7NXEC&pg=3DP=
A79&lpg=3DPA79&ots=3Dk2Ln-bag5i&dq=3D"red+ass"+texas&ie=3DISO-8859-1&sig=3Do=
GzIL
FMUZztiSLpoIl7FLbKtNPU) =20
Mosca: A Factual Fiction=20
by Richard Miller=20
DFI Books, Dada Foundation=20
1997=20
Pg. 79:=20
Thomas loved thrusting the song into this military milieu where, to use a=20
Texas expression, it would give plenty of Rebels the red ass.=20

_Google Books_=20
(http://books.google.com/books?vid=3DISBN1413427138&id=3DU_V2Mc6cvvwC&pg=3DP=
A250&lpg=3DPA250&ots=3DfmH1_JX4_h&dq=3D"red+ass"+texas&ie=3DISO-8859-1&sig=
=3DUzJ
Ot3ZPw--w5_qAUVnkH4e8D0w) =20
Brown Shoe Black Shoe:=20
Memories of Two Air Forces, Two Wars and One Military Occupation=20
by Troy Thompson=20
Xlibris Corporation=20
2004=20
Pg. 250:=20
RED ASS=E2=80=94Frequently =E2=80=9CThe RA=E2=80=99s=E2=80=9D. A term used =20=
by subordinates for a situation=20
where someone superior to them seems to be especially irritated with them o=
r=20
even with the world itself.=20

5 April 1981, Syracuse (NY) Herald Journal, pg. B1:=20
=E2=80=9CAs a player, I was a red-ass. Well, let=E2=80=99s just say I had a=
temper. I was=20
intense,=E2=80=9D said Humphreys, a righthanded relief pitcher in his young=
er days,=20
who spent parts of nine years in The Show.=20

=20

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com=
.

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

---------------------------------
Don't get soaked.  Take a quick peek at the forecast
 with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut.

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org