[Ads-l] Straphanger (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill CIV (US)]

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED



> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Dan Goncharoff
> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2016 11:59 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Straphanger (UNCLASSIFIED)
> 
> 
> ----
> 
> I doubt Wichita had a subway in 1892. 

The article appears to be a reprint from the NY Tribune.


> 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.
> 

I noted it as "literal" because I intended to also supply figurative cites (straphanger - one who attaches himself, perhaps undeservedly, to an activity or project), but wasn't able to find any appropriate quotes to support them.

I did see numerous instances in which "straphangers" referred to subway/bus/mass transit passengers in general, but didn't do anything to document them.



> 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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