"Yoot" resurfaces

[ronbutters at AOL.COM]

The origin would seem to be simply a patronizing mimickry of working-class American pronunciation of word-final theta--or am I missing something here?

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-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>

Date:         Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:32:35
To:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject:      [ADS-L] "Yoot" resurfaces


Wentworth & Flexner's _DAS_ from 1960 includes a citation of _yoot_ from the _N.Y. World-Telegram and Sun_ of Aug. 16, 1957 (no page number given):  "Cop Shot: 3 Yoots* Held...(*Yoot: a young punk; a juvenile no-goodnik)."

  This p.m. Fox News alluded to "yoots," explaining that it meant "angry youths."  By way of further explanation, "Yoots hate the Establishment." A protest demonstration at the meeting of the World Bank and International Money Fund was the context. A Fox reporter was surrounded by "yoots" who stole his camera.

  The film, _My Cousin Vinny_ (1992) was cited as the inspiration. Cinephiles will recall the word's appearance there.

  JL


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