Phrase inquiry: "Spanish news"

[Donald M Lance]

Is the play set in the time of the Spanish revolution?
DMLance

> From: "Douglas G. Wilson" <douglas at NB.NET>
> Reply-To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 09:19:19 -0500
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Phrase inquiry:  "Spanish news"
>
> I can't find anything. Maybe some commentator on Tennessee Williams has
> elucidated this. I found two other instances on the Web which are exactly
> analogous, possibly copied from Williams' usage: they add nothing.
>
> I am reduced to rank speculation. What word could replace "Spanish" here
> and make sense? I have three answers, giving three interpretations of
> "Spanish". Take your pick, if you can't find anything better.
>
> (1) "Spanish" = "hot" (climate, spicy food, passionate temperament, ...).
>
> (2) "Spanish" = "blunt" -- from equating the old slang nouns "spanish" and
> "blunt", both meaning "money" in the same milieu (I think).
>
> (3) [my favorite] "Spanish" = "spick-and-span" = "fresh", merely an
> intensifier for "new(s)" ... "spick-and-span" of course says "Spanish"
> twice, once as vulgar slang and once as an abbreviation.
>
> -- Doug Wilson
>