Herf?

[Michael Quinion]

A subscriber posed a question for the Q and A section of my World Wide
Words newsletter which began, "Recently I received an invitation to attend
a cigar herf." He had never come across the word. Neither had I, so his
question both introduced me to a new word and left me floundering. It's
easy to discover its meaning. One Web site defines it: "A lively gathering
of cigar-smoking comrades who meet in a restaurant, club, cigar store or
home to share their appreciation of fine cigars." "Herf" seems well
established, but where the devil does it come from? Any ideas, anyone?


--
Michael Quinion
Editor, World Wide Words
E-mail: wordseditor at worldwidewords.org
Web: http://www.worldwidewords.org

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