Girdle String --> G-string?

[Laurence Horn]

At 12:11 AM -0400 3/29/10, Baker, John wrote:
>To clarify in response to Victor's second paragraph:  Yes, this was
>just a random posting on a message board, entitled to no more
>deference that it can amass through whatever innate persuasiveness
>it can bring to bear.  Exapno Mapcase (the original poster) is
>forthright in disclosing that he or she has no claim to expertise.
>
>I've been following the comments by Victor and others with interest,
>including those from Wilson (while the G-string he discusses is not
>the kind I was talking about, his comments have been very
>educational).  I would also be quite interested in any additional
>insights.
>
>A few thoughts on what facts we seem to have in evidence:
>
>1.  The early spellings are "geestring," "G-string," and "'G'
>string," with the first of these marginally earlier.
>
>2.  The "G string," the lowest string on a violin, is well-attested,
>but there is no specific evidence linking it to the item of apparel.
>
>3.  "Girdle string," with the same or nearly same meaning, is also
>found, but not with any great frequency.  FWIW, the examples of
>"girdle string" generally apply to Old World peoples, while the
>earliest uses of "G-string" apply to American Indians (but see the
>Filipino example cited by Victor).
>
>4.  Nineteenth century writers do not seem to be shy about using
>"girdle," as far as I can tell, so there is no reason to suppose
>that modesty would require a contraction of "girdle string" to
>"G-string."  Modesty would have been a reason to avoid "groin
>string," but if that is the full form, taboo avoidance was so
>successful that it is not found at all.
>
>
Then there are the more ...creative etymologies.  Many web
etymologists (on the amateur level) suggest that it resembles the
(capital) letter G.  Others, and I believe we've rehearsed this
theory in the past, suggest that it's so called because it covers the
G spot.  Other than getting the anatomy and chronology wrong, I think
that's a winner.

LH

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