[Ads-l] Straphanger (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Dan Goncharoff]

I doubt Wichita had a subway in 1892. The use of the word "car" leads me to
think the quote refers to a train, not a "subway or bus". Perhaps the OED
definition needs to be widened?

Also, this is a 'literal' use -- referring to standing passengers hanging
onto straps -- and not a general use for all passengers, standing or
otherwise. I wonder when some (the standees, who should be standers?? -- we
don't call those sitting sittees, do we?) became representative of all.

DanG

On Thu, Apr 14, 2016 at 12:49 PM, Mullins, Bill CIV (US) <
william.d.mullins18.civ at mail.mil> wrote:

> CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
>
> Cliffhangers got me to looking at straphangers
>
> Literal sense -- a subway or bus passenger.  OED has 1905.
>
> _Wichita [KS] Daily Eagle 7 Sep 1892 p 8 col 3 [Chronicling America]
> ""Seats at the other end of the car, ladies and gentlemen!"  The
> straphangers looked surprised."
>
>
>
> CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
>
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>

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