"cheek music"

[Jonathan Lighter]

Nope, not in OED. "Chin music" not attested till 1834.

JL

On Mon, Aug 22, 2011 at 7:06 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Re: "cheek music"
>
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>
> Not in the OED?
>
> As often with 18th century dates, I look in EAI.  I will need some
> time to analyze an 1802 article, but here's an example from 1807
> where the meaning appears to be "gossip":
>
> Spirit of the Press [Philadelphia]; Date: 11-01-1807; Volume: I;
> Issue: 30; Page: [3]; 2nd col. of article, near the end:
>
> "The officers sometimes invite you to the ward-room, and you have a
> good deal of cheek music together. I wish you would let me know
> what's stirring among them as soon as you can."
>
> Letter Introduced as "Union at sea, November 7, 1807"  To Richard
> Folwell, boatswains's mate, Ship Union; signed Henry Hawser.  [A bit
> inconsistent?  Were they both aboard the Union?]  The letter starts:
>
> "Holloa, Dick, what cheer fore and aft?  Does the weather look squally?"
>
> Perhaps the letter was sent from one part of the ship to another?  Or
> perhaps it is invented.
>
> Joel
>
> At 8/21/2011 08:32 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> >Means "whistling," but cf. later "chin music," yakking.
> >
> >1787 _The Adventures of Jonathan Corncob_ (London: ptd. for the author)
> 190:
> >Does it not blow hard enough without your giving us your d----d cheek
> music,
> >to bring on a squall, and be d----d to you."
>
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