"spend a penny" -- the TLS is at it again.

[Joel S. Berson]

At 10/6/2011 01:52 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>And to you too, Joel.
>
>As special bonus, the phrase seems to have nothing to do with pay toilets.
>
>...unless...

So, do we have any idea where the penny comes from?

Also, I do wonder whether the context of laxatives suggests
"defecate" as the 1742 meaning rather than "urinate".

>But who could be that skeptical of a two-hundred-year antedating?

Only Jon, who's skeptical of a 15- to 40- year antedating of
"African-American".  :-)

Joel

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