query: "sweet porbell"

[Marc Sacks]

All I could think of was the French "pourbelles"; "sortir les pourbelles"
means to take out the trash. I learned this years ago from an ad for a
language school, where it appeared in a cartoon with the slogan "Whatever
it is, it sounds better in French." So maybe the writer had picked up a
sweet-sounding French word and used it as a term of endearment. Then
again, since a Frenchperson would lovingly call someone "my little
cabbage," maybe it actually is a term of endearment.

Marc Sacks
msacks at theworld.com

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU>
> Subject:      query: "sweet porbell"
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I'm forwarding this question with the hope that=20
> someone out there can offer a suggestion.  (No=20
> point in checking google or the OED, unless you=20
> want to find the same query from the same source=20
> at "Yahoo! answers", where it wasn't answered,=20
> assuming it isn't in fact < "poor belle".)
>
> LH
>
>>    Now I complete editing the letters and diary=20
>>of a Civil War sailor-soldier, b. 1843 in New=20
>>Haven and later a Yale Divinity School graduate.
>>     On January 23, 1865, he wrote:
>>
>>"I was, however, some what startled to read that=20
>>the Gen=92l was rather of an "angel visitant" and=20
>>cousin of a "sweet porbell." If my relations=20
>>must suffer such personalities when I=20
>>distinguish myself, I might almost desire that=20
>>day postponed."
>>
>>    The Gen'l was Alfred H. Terry; "angel=20
>>visitant" is understood. But sweet porbell (or=20
>>possibly parbell) is not.
>>     I have searched every where, asked  forums=20
>>and the meaning  still remains unknown.
>>     What is the world is or was a porbell?
>>    If you or colleagues have a clue, please advise.
>>Sincerely,
>>George S. Burkhardt
>
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