more on _mutt_

[Jonathan Lighter]

The connection with horses appears to be that a slow racehorse was commonly
called a "dog" in that era.

JL

On Sun, Aug 12, 2012 at 9:05 AM, David Barnhart <dbarnhart at highlands.com>wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       David Barnhart <dbarnhart at HIGHLANDS.COM>
> Subject:      more on _mutt_
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Century D. -
>
> Century D. sup. -
>
> New Century D. +  [origin obscure]
>
>
>
> OED -
>
> OEDs (1933) +  (orig. U.S.) [Apparently abbreviated f. _mutton-head_"
>
>                                    N.B. The first quote is for a stupid
> human (1904).
>
>
>
> OEDs (1986) +  (orig. U.S.) "Abbrev. _mutton-head_"
>
>                                    N.B. The first quote is for a stupid
> human (1901).
>
>
>
> eOED (2003) + (orig. U.S.) "Shortened < _mutton-head_"
>
>        N.B. The first quote is for a slow horse (1899). Stupid human and
> mongrel senses are tied at 1900.
>
>
>
> A question mark or similar indication of uncertainty seems in order.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> David
>
>
>
> barnhart at highlandns.com
>
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