crazy/insane gradation

[Robin Hamilton]

> Aren't _galluses_ suspenders? If so, the semantic connection is
> transparent.
>
> -Wilson

An idependent derivation, I'd guess -- "gallows" (frequently found in the
combination "gallows whore") dates from 18thC (I'd have to check) and is
definitely an adjective, derived from your actual gallows, and taking up the
semantic area in cant/slang once occupied (though there is an overlap in the
periods when the two words are used) by "rum" (which goes way back to Harman
in 1568).

In Glasgow (in the "gallus" pronunciation variant) it means "excellent",
"adept", "clever" -- that range of meanings.  The "gallus" variant seems to
be specific to Scotland and America.

"galluses" (always used in the plural?) for suspenders *may be derived from
the hanging gallows directly, or may have emerged from the adjective
"gallus".

Will now do the obvious, and look up HDAS to see what's said there.
(Fortunately I still have my copy of the relevant Vol. 1 here, although I
had to leave Volume 2 behind me when I recently departed America.)

(Excerpted)

GALLOWS  See _gallus_

GALLUS _adj._ [colloquial pronunciation of obselete _gallows_ 'fit for the
gallows, wicked'] 1. splendid, attractive.  Also adverb. Also GALLOWS.

        Jon's first cite is from Parker's _Life's Painter_ in *1789, "...
gallows fun and joking".

I could probably antedate that, as I'm pretty sure it crops up in broadside
ballads from earlier in the eighteenth century, but broadsides are the very
devil to date.

GALLUS  _adv._  exceedingly, very, awful.  _Rare_ in US.  Also GALLOWS.

First cite  1805 _Port Folio_

No GALLUSES.

Robin


>
> On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 7:01 PM, Robin Hamilton
> <robin.hamilton2 at btinternet.com> wrote:
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail
>> header -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Robin Hamilton <robin.hamilton2 at BTINTERNET.COM>
>> Subject:      Re: crazy/insane gradation
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> There's also the Glasgow term, "metal", which carries a wholly different
>> set
>> of connotations.

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