Do-Rag (1966)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 08:23:25 -0500, Dennis R. Preston <preston at MSU.EDU> wrote:

>There is an alternative etymology in which "do-rag" is "dew-rag," and
>"dew" is a euphemism for sweat, the current "do-rag"
>folk-etymologized from it.

The "dew-rag" spelling also goes back to 1966 on Newspaperarchive...

-----
Chronicle Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) Oct. 12, 1966, p. 60 [?], col. 1
There is no relationship between a kid with a dew rag on his head throwing
flaming bottles of gasoline and the constitutional rights of a race of
people.
-----


--Ben Zimmer


>>Bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:William Safire had never heard of a "do rag"
>>before? Earliest use is in the New York Times?
>>
>>(JSTOR)
>>Take Care of Business
>>Marvin X
>>The Drama Review: TDR > Vol. 12, No. 4, Black Theatre (Summer,
>>1968), pp. 85-92
>>Pg. 85:
>>WES is dressed in the style of a "do rag" nationalist; JOE as a
>>typical college student.
>>
>>
>>(NEWSPAPERARCHIVE)
>>17 August 1966, Newark (Ohio) Advocate, pg. 39, col. 2:
>>Young called himself the "do-rag" man, referring to a bandana, or
>>do-rag, worn around the head after applying a hair preparation.