Tough Guy Phonology

[Jonathan Lighter]

Proof of what we already knew :

  1918  _The Outlook_ (Oct. 2) 185 : Ginger came from the gas-house section of New York, and he reached Camp Devens in a very dissatisfied frame of mind....Ginger acquired a reputation as a tough guy because he said "dis" and "dat" and "thoity-thoid."

  "T'oidy-t'oid" would have sounded tougher.

  JL

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