n-heads

[Wilson Gray]

On Jan 30, 2005, at 10:50 PM, Michael McKernan wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Michael McKernan <mckernan at LOCALNET.COM>
> Subject:      n-heads
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> ROCHESTER UNION-SPY - Friday, March 17, 1871
> [Rochester, Indiana]
>
> http://www.fulco.lib.in.us/genealogy/Tombaugh/Newspaper%20Excerpts/
> Html/Newspape
> rs%201871-72.htm
>
>
>> CHRIS. HOOVER intends to have a good foundation under the brick house
>> he
>> proposes to erect on the corner of Jefferson and Meridian streets. He
>> has
>> collected a big pile of niggerheads for that purpose.
>
> Michael McKernan
>

So, it's also the name of something used in construction. Any idea what
it was? FWIW, my 1971 RHD defines "niggerhead" only as a nautical term
meaning "gypsyhead." Period. Was there really a time in this country
when ethnic and racial slurs were so common that a professional
lexicographer felt free to define one slur by another slur, without the
need for further explanation? Clearly, there was.

-Wilson Gray