slang list

[Jonathan Lighter]

I have no info on "word (up)!" before the late '80s.  Still there, Wilson?

JL

Wilson Gray <wilson.gray at RCN.COM> wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Wilson Gray
Subject: Re: slang list
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On Jun 21, 2005, at 11:08 AM, Mark A. Mandel wrote:

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> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: "Mark A. Mandel"
> Subject: slang list
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>
> Dictionary of New Terms
>
> Compiled by the History of the English Language classes at Hope
> College,=20
> 1997-2002
>
> http://www.hope.edu/academic/english/gruenler/newterms.htm
>
> An alphabetical list of 574 expressions, many of them college slang
> and man=
> y=20
> of them local to Hope College. Some are familiar to me, many are not;
> some=
> =20
> may be of interest to readers of this list. Some examples:
>
> =09academic placenta n. The last of one's academic ideology that
> exists=20
> in one's first years as a professional in the real world. "That new
> guy is=
> =20
> insufferable. He really needs to shed his academic placenta and figure
> out=
> =20
> how things really work around here." Used by those in the business
> world.=
> =20
> See: www.sabram.com/site/slang.html.
>
> =09airborne v. intr. A technical term used by the even year pull
> team.=20
> When the pullers are on the rope, one might say, "Airborne, lets fly."
> This=
> =20
> means to get the rope up off the ground on the next heave. This word
> also=
> =20
> gets everyone on the team excited and crazy. [Presumably local to
> Hope=20
> College, judging by "the even year pull team".-- MAM]
>
> =09gaposis n. The condition that arises when the fabric between the=20
> buttons on a shirt does not lie flat and instead comes apart to expose
> the=
> =20
> skin. "I shouldn't have worn this shirt without something under it, I
> have=
> =20
> been experiencing gaposis."
>
> =09word n. A question asked to another person in greeting them. This
> is=20
> to ask someone what the word is on how they are and what they are
> doing. As=
> =20
> a person walks past they may be greeted with, "Word!" This derives
> from=20
> "word" as information or news. "Word up" is a common phrase used with
> this=
> =20
> definition to ask what is happening with someone else. Often used in=20
> alternative and rap music. [This is the first time I have seen any
> etymolog=
> y=20
> for this expression. -- MAM]
>

Heretofore, I've never heard "word (up)" interpreted as a question.
This is a new use with a different etymology from the old BE usage, in
which "word (up)!" signals strong agreement.

-Wilson Gray

> =09wormburner n. A fast and hard tee shot in golf that never rises
> more=20
> than a few feet from the ground and just streaks along the ground.
> This=20
> refers to the speed and friction that causes heat so close to the
> ground=20
> that will literally burn the worms. "Wow, that was a
> wormburner=85better lu=
> ck=20
> next time. Ha, ha!"
>
>
> -- Mark A. Mandel
> [This text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]
>
>
> --0-590426743-1119366501=:18889--
>


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