LL-L: "Etymology" LOWLANDS-L, 02.NOV.1999 (08) [E]

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From: john feather [johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk]
Subject: Etymology

Ron

In your message about "make", etc, etc, you cited Standard Danish "_makker_
'comrade', 'partner'".

There is an English word "mucker" meaning a best friend or comrade. I recall
it in a film about the RAF (Sean Connery played a feeble-minded but hunky
gypsy) so it may be service slang. Chambers Dictionary lists it under the
headword "muck", but from your example this doesn't look very convincing.

The Penguin Dictionary of Historical Slang doesn't give this meaning
(presumably because it's still current) but has "mucker" = "army
quartermaster" (ca 1885-1910).
I can't resist adding from the same source "muck toper feeker - an
umbrella-maker - Scots ca 1820-80. Prob the form should be *mush-topper
feaker*".

John Feather johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Etymology

Hi, John!

Thanks for the added information above.

Yes, indeed.  I've been wondering about 'mucker' and 'to muck' in this
context.  There's also '(high) muckamuck' for 'head honcho' (cf. LS _Mucker_
'ringleader').  'To muck around' in the sense of 'to fool/mess around' or 'to
bungle' might then not be derived from 'to muck' as in 'to muck out a stable'
(< noun 'muck' < OE _muk_), but this may be a case of contamination or
misinterpretation.

Best regards,

Reinhard/Ron

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