sizzurp

[Victor Steinbok]

The first post mentions "sizzurp" in passing, as a part of Kanye West
lyrics:

> I was reminded of the lyrics by Kanye West, recently analyzed by Mark
> Liberman et al. on the Language Log...
> -----
> http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002269.html
>
> I drink a boost for breakfast, an Ensure for dizzert Somebody ordered
> pancakes I just sip the sizzurp That right there could drive a sane
> man bizerk Not to worry the Mr. H-to-the-Izzo's back wizzork
> -----

This mashes well with the Wiki and UD "etymologies". But, in this case,
the reference seems to be to "pancake syrup"--at least, logically--but,
of course, may have added meaning that's supposed to be open to the
initiated.

The second link leads into the middle of the thread, discussing
lexicalization of odd misspelling. Original post (BZ) is here
http://goo.gl/nBmPR

In any case, there appears to be moderate evolution since then and the
appearance of the term in the discussion of gossip magazines on a
popular site is well outside of 2005-6 norm, although the use of
Codeine-based cough syrup under one name or another goes back into at
least the mid-1990s. My question would be if "sizzurp" has narrowed to
the equivalent of "purple drank" and the mere mention automatically
implies that product and not some other "syrup".

     VS-)


On 2/14/2013 10:41 AM, Ben Zimmer wrote:
> On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 4:55 AM, Victor Steinbok wrote:
>> BZ has probably already flagged it years ago...
> Yep. Previous discussion of "sizzurp" (from 2005):
>
> http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0506E&L=ADS-L&P=R3604
>
> And "purple drank" (from 2006):
>
> http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ADS-L&P=27119
>
> --bgz

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