[Ads-l] Straphanger (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Dan Goncharoff]

1892 is still 12 years before the opening of the subway. Still likely a
train or trolley, not a subway or bus.

I find it interesting that the term strap-hanger existed in the context of
trains, as the leather strap used to hold the cord that a passenger pulled
to indicate a desire to get off at the next stop.



DanG

On Thu, Apr 14, 2016 at 1:11 PM, Mullins, Bill CIV (US) <
william.d.mullins18.civ at mail.mil> wrote:

> 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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