Rush/Work the Growler (1883, 1884)

[Beverly Flanigan]

I say this VERY tentatively, and with no evidence other than historical
confluences:  Isn't it just possible that "growler" could have come from an
Irish term transmuted into English?  The time of these early citations is
the peak time of Irish immigration; the possessive "me" cited below is
Irish/British English; the byline "By Himself" suggests Irish English
usage; and the locales cited were heavily Irish and Irish American (New
York, Trenton, Boston ...).  As linguists often note, they (and presumably
journalists and other language observers) don't usually become aware of
language change until it is well on its way, and then they assume such
change represents recent innovations when in fact it may have old and by
now obscure roots.

At 11:37 PM 7/27/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>    From the AMERICAN PERIODICAL SERIES ONLINE.
>
>
>
>    TROUTING ON THE BIGOSH.
>Forest and Stream; A Journal of Outdoor Life, Travel, Nature Study,
>Shooting, Fishing, Yachting (1873-1930). New York: Dec 4, 1884. Vol. VOL.
>XXIII, Iss. No. 19.; p. 369 (2 pages)
>Pg. 369:
>    "Mister, please give me a penny to fill me mother's growler.*  I had
> six cents and lost one o' them down a grating, and she'll beat me if I go
> home without the beer."
>
>*Originally "growler" was applied by city tramps to the empty fruit caps
>into which they emptied stale beer from the kegs on the sidewalk.  This
>act was termed "working the growler," but the word now covers, in low
>life, any receptacle for beer.
>
>
>
>    NEW YORK NAKED; OR, NOT SUCH A SUCKER AS HE LOOKED.
>BY HIMSELF.. The National Police Gazette (1845-1906). New York: Nov 17,
>1883. Vol. VOLUME XLIII., Iss. No. 321.; p. 6 (1 page):
>    "Suppose we work the growler?" the whole party burst into innocent
> laughter, and my fun was evidently appreciated.
>    I need not add that the "growler" was "worked," and "worked" several
> times, too.  After each of its descents to the corner liquor store (I
> took it once and then the girls insisted on carrying it in turn
> afterward), our simple merriment waxed more and more hearty, even the old
> mother became a girl again and coquetted like the loveliest of them.