Carny Lingo

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 11:32:40 -0400, Benjamin Zimmer
<bgzimmer at RCI.RUTGERS.EDU> wrote:

>Skimming through the latter site (compiled by Wayne N. Keyser), I see one
>interesting entry-- "bozark", perhaps a blend of "bozo" and "beezark"?
>
>     Bozark: Rarely heard ... a female wrestler or
>     boxer in a fairground athletic match.
>     http://www.goodmagic.com/carny/carny1.htm
>
>This also shows up in a glossary compiled by the Pro Wrestling Torch:
>
>     Bozark (n) A female wrestler; a rarely used old
>     carney [dfn.] term.
>     http://www.pwtorch.com/insiderglossary.shtml

Looks like this was synonymous with "be(e)zark" in flapper lingo:

-----
Davenport Democrat And Leader (Iowa), May 28, 1922, p. 32/3
Then I jazzed a whirl with a cake-eater on parole, but sluffed him for a
fluky corn-shredder with a flat tire, who ditched his bozark to do my
corn-crackin', my dog-kennels gettin' jammed somethin' fierce.
-----
Chronicle Telegram (Elyria, Ohio), June 5, 1922, p. 3/7
Add Flapper Dictionary. ...
Bozark: Girl without brains.
-----


--Ben Zimmer