"Latest" expressions from Harlem, 1929

Douglas G. Wilson douglas at NB.NET
Wed Oct 13 03:42:33 UTC 2004


 From N'archive:

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_Zanesville Signal_, 4 Sep. 1929: p. 2(?), col. 2:

<<Harlem continues to provide a semi-annual dictionary of phrases made and
developed in the "black belt," but which slowly find their way down town. /
Lee Posner, who is one of Harlem's busiest little interpreters, supplies me
with these as being the latest: "Collar me a nod"--meaning, "take a nap";
"a jigger-walk" is a cheap sport and a "freebe" is something secured on
credit; "throw it in the wagon" means "it's all over with"; a "canta" is a
particularly dark brand of sporty black gal; "huddle together there" means
"calm yourself." A "domy" is a bed and a "star twister" is a girlie who
demands liberal gifts.>>

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"Jigger-walk" is probably a variant of "jigwalk", I think; but here it
means "cheap sport". "Cheap sport" was a fairly common expression
apparently equivalent to "cheap skate" (in both senses, I think).

[The word "jigger-walk" is printed "jiggerwalk" in the same piece (column)
in another paper on the same day.]

Anybody recognize "canta"?

-- Doug Wilson



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