A misunderstanding of BE slang

[Wilson Gray]

Yes, I've heard it, but, AFAIK, like "cultivate one's wig," it's never
been widespread, I was shocked to hear it on "That '70s Show." I
figure that all of the writers must be young enough to be my children,
so when would they ever have had the occasion to hear that bit of
antique slang? But, perhaps, they read it somewhere.

I've heard "cultivate one's wig" only once, outside of the old 'hood
in Saint Louis. It was used in a movie, like TV, also an artificial
environment. In an old, neo-blaxploitation comedy, a black lawyer says
to the white judge, "Please, your honor, let me cultivate my wig!"
I've never been quite sure what it was supposed to mean in that
context. "Let me demonstrate my command of legal procedure," perhaps?
The only meaning that I have for it is, basically, "get a haircut."

-Wilson

On 10/10/06, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: A misunderstanding of BE slang
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Wilson, have you heard anyone actually utter the phrase "righteous moss" ?
>
>   Seems like it appears mostly on old lists of "jazz slang."
>
>   Not that there's anything wrong with that. Necessarily.
>
>   JL
> Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>   ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Wilson Gray
> Subject: A misunderstanding of BE slang
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> In an episode of "That '70s Show," The characters 'Eric" and 'Hyde,'
> who has *very* curly hair, are chatting. Eric remarks that he's been
> thinking about getting a perm. Hyde asks why. Eric replies that he
> likes the look of Hyde's hair and he thinks that that same look might
> be attractive on him, too. Hyde retorts, "This isn't a perm! *God*
> gave me this _righteous moss_!"
>
> Say what?! "Righteous moss" is a term used specifically to describe
> the kind of "good" or "straight" hair (stereo)typical of people of
> (North-)European ancestry that the various "conks / konks" and "new
> processes" have striven to imitate over the past century or so.
> Wouldn't nobody be calling Hyde's kinky-assed naps no "righteous
> moss." That wig would need some serious cultivation before it could be
> called "righteous."
>
> -Wilson
>
> Everybody says, "How hard it is that we have to die"---a strange
> complaint to come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
> -----
> Whoever has lived long enough to find out what life is knows how deep
> a debt of gratitude we owe to Adam, the first great benefactor of our
> race. He brought death into the world.
>
> --Sam Clemens
>
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--
Everybody says, "How hard it is that we have to die"---a strange
complaint to come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
-----
Whoever has lived long enough to find out what life is knows how deep
a debt of gratitude we owe to Adam, the first great benefactor of our
race. He brought death into the world.

--Sam Clemens

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org