Fwd: Re: Nickname "Spike" (1894)

[Barnhart]

----- Original Message -----

I had an uncle born about 1890 who was quite tall and thin as a rail.  His
nickname even in the family was Spike.  I always thought it was his
physical dimensions that governed the name Spike (like a railroad spike).

Regards,
David

barnhart at highlands.com

American Dialect Society <[ mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
]ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> writes:


>---------------------- Information from the mail header
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>Sender:       American Dialect Society <[ mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>]ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <[ mailto:wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM
>]wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
>Subject:      Nickname "Spike" (1894)
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>"Spike" was a common nickname for tough guys in pulp literature. Here's a
>very early ex.:
>
>  1894 _Phila. Inquirer_ (Dec. 25) 3: SPIKE STRUCK IT RICH...."Spike" was
>racetrack tout, or rather he had been.  Spike was lean and angular.
>
>  JL
>
>
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