a question (Unconventional English)

[Scott Swanson]

Pafra & Scott Catledge wrote:

>Eric Partridge (sp?) wrote a Dictionary of Unconventional English or
someone reviewed it under >that "title."  I believe that it is still in
print but I do not recall by which publisher.

I have the 8th edition:
Eric Partridge, "A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English"
Macmillan Publishing Company
ISBN 0-02-594980-2

For "Kike" he cites a Leo Rosten explanation as a derivation from Yiddish
_kikel_, a circle - supposedly, illiterate Jewish immigrants to the US
would sign their names with a circle, never with a cross...

No etymology attempted for "Dyke".

Scott Swanson