porno as a count noun

[Ann Burlingham]

On Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 10:29 AM, Neal Whitman <nwhitman at ameritech.net> wrote:
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Neal Whitman <nwhitman at AMERITECH.NET>
> Subject:      Re: porno as a count noun
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I've heard 'porno' as a count noun meaning specificaly a pornographic movie
> only a few times. I don't remember exactly where, but it always struck me as
> odd. I figured it must just be common usage among makers and consumers of
> pornographic movies.
>
> I also noticed that the ads (at least here in central Ohio) are trying to
> ditch the 'porno', and found this explanation:

When I lived in Columbus, a guy at a party complained that his
girlfriend "had made him throw away all his pornos" before they moved
- from the context, I gathered this was his porn collection, I thought
mostly magazine, possibly movies, too. Everyone seemed to understand
what he meant. I was struck at the time by the usage, but I have heard
(and used) it since.

That would be from 8-12 years ago, I'd say.

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