Mau-Mauing

[Robin Hamilton]

The OED defines: "mau-mau, v. colloq. (chiefly N. Amer.). ... [< MAU MAU n.
1.] ...    trans. To use menacing or intimidating tactics against; to
intimidate, harass; to terrorize."

The first cite is from Wolfe (1970), and *all the citations are (as far as I
can see) American.

Are there any examples of this term being used by a Brit?  I suspect there'd
be very few.  I also suspect that the OED definition was constructed by a
Brit, and that an American version would give a different spin to the word.

Interesting.

Robin

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wilson Gray" <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:14 PM
Subject: Re: Mau-Mauing


> ---------------------- Information from the mail
> header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Mau-Mauing
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Such a big deal that I have an apparently totally-false impression
> that Wolfe used the term in print in the 'Sixties. Yet, I have found
> no evidence in any source in support of this impression. Just shows to
> go you that memory sometimes lies.
>
> -Wilson

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