jizz

[Laurence Horn]

On Feb 19, 2012, at 11:05 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:

> HDAS defines "jizz" as semen. Well documented but far more recent.
>
> Speaking as s a reasonably well-read person, I've never encountered
> the OED meaning.
>
> JL

Yeah, I think there'd be some taboo avoidance at work in that case.  The same process hasn't quite reached Santorum yet, but other forces are at work there.

LH
>
> On Sun, Feb 19, 2012 at 10:21 AM, Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Stephen Goranson <goranson at DUKE.EDU>
>> Subject:      jizz
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> OED has an entry for jizz, n., "The characteristic impression given by an a=
>> nimal or plant." The OED articles on jazz do not include jizz as a variant =
>> spelling, though some late texts suggest it may be. The OED's first two quo=
>> tations for jizz are from a 1922 book. That book reprints a 1921 article in=
>> the Manchester Guardian, Dec. 6, 1921, p. 14, col. 1 [*1]. "Jizz" occurs m=
>> ore than a dozen times in the article, four of which appear in OED. An exam=
>> ple from the article and not in OED: "....all the pose, attitude, and habit=
>> -character is lost, when the bird becomes a [dead] specimen. Its jizz is go=
>> ne."
>>
>> Other appearances of jizz:
>>
>> GB copyright entries: 5535. Brown (It. E.) That jazz jizz jazziest hug. 180=
>> 50. 1920, pub 1921
>> More editions
>> GB jizz 1913 Saturday evening post [Philadelphia Graham?] v185 issue 6???[I=
>> don't have this volume to check, and did not confirm at HT--is anyone inte=
>> rested in checking?]
>> HT p481 ...dancer.  Have you seen "Hullo Jizz-Jazz"The strand magazine. v.5=
>> 7 1919 Jan-Jun. p482  stage box for Hullo Jizz Jazz,....
>>
>> Stephen Goranson
>> http://www.duke.edu/~goranson
>>
>> [*1] For those with access:
>> http://search.proquest.com/hnpguardianobserver/docview/476538995/fulltextPD=
>> F/134FB9715B973A6749B/23?accountid=3D10598
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
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