rump-cord

[Jan Ivarsson TransEdit]

http://steamrailroading.com/tech/jargon.shtml  has:

PULL THE CALF'S TAIL = Yank the whistle cord

Jan Ivarsson

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark A Mandel" <mam at THEWORLD.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 7:10 PM
Subject: [ADS-L] rump-cord


> In rec.music.filk someone wrote, quoting a song learned in summer camp
> as a child:
>
> : Mary had a steamboat,
> : The steamboat had a bell.
> : Mary pulled the rump-cord,
> : And blew it all to ... pieces!
>
> Any insights into "rump-cord"? OED Online and MW Online don't have it.
> OED Online has things like "rump-strap" used with horses, but nothing
> that makes sense in this connection. It might be a mondegreen, but for
> what?
>
> -- Mark A. Mandel
>