Not in HDAS?

[Wilson Gray]

On Aug 22, 2004, at 12:34 PM, James A. Landau wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "James A. Landau" <JJJRLandau at AOL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Not in HDAS?
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> In a message dated > Sat, 21 Aug 2004 22:52:37 -0400,  Wilson Gray <
>> wilson.gray at RCN.COM> writes
>>
>> BE "music roll" for "roll of toilet paper" also seems to be missing
>> [from
>> the HDAS].
>
> I would guess that "music roll" means "player piano roll", in which
> case the
> visual analogy with a roll of toilet paper is obvious.

Well, now that you've pointed it out, it's obvious. It wasn't obvious
to me, despite the fact that I've used the term for at least 50 years,
all the while vaguely wondering about its origin. Naturally, I know
what a music roll is. But, somehow, I'd never made the connection
between an actual music roll and the slang term derived from it. Thank
you!

-Wilson Gray

>
> What is not obvious is why such a metaphor should appear ONLY in BE.
> I am
> not aware that player pianos play or played a significantly greater
> role (no pun
> intended) in African-American culture than in white culture.  Nor am I
> aware
> of any urban legend that white-only washrooms (yes, I have been around
> long
> enough to have observed segregated washrooms) had player pianos.
>
>       - James A. Landau
>