Oddness from Dallas Morning News

[Harrold Wilson Gray]

I've tried to fight it, but I gotta ask: why "oddness" and not "oddity"?

-Wilson Gray

On Sep 6, 2005, at 4:40 PM, Mullins, Bill wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Mullins, Bill" <Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL>
> Subject:      Oddness from Dallas Morning News
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>
> "Anti-Slang" (from the Tyler Record)
> Dallas News 1888-03-17  Page 4
> "A free puff in the Record awaits the local society or circle in Tyler
> which will adopt an anti-slang plank.  Now hump yourselves."
>
> I am sure that this means "make an effort" rather than "screw
> yourself".
> But, still . . .
>