n-heads

[Wilson Gray]

On Jan 31, 2005, at 11:34 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: n-heads
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>
> It also means 1) a hummock covered thickly with grass or weeds; 2) a
> dark-colored stone or boulder.  My guess is that Hoover was collecting
> rocks and stones, but other suggestions are welcome.
>
> JL

Definition 2) seems to be the relevant one, in this case.

-Wilson

>
> Wilson Gray <wilson.gray at RCN.COM> wrote:
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> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Wilson Gray
> Subject: Re: n-heads
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> --------
>
> On Jan 30, 2005, at 10:50 PM, Michael McKernan wrote:
>
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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>> Sender: American Dialect Society
>> Poster: Michael McKernan
>> Subject: n-heads
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>> -
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>> 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
>
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