[Ads-l] "cop" < "copper": Etymology, etymythology, or Scotch

[Ben Zimmer]

On Sat, Jul 8, 2017 at 8:40 AM, James A. Landau wrote:

> Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>
> >Ockham's billy suggests the verb is the more likely culprit (or as we
> >say today, "perp" < "perpetual criminal.")
>
> Isn't it more likely that "perp" < "perpetrator"?
>

I think you're missing Jon's etymythological humor. Anyhow, we all know
"perp" is an acronym for "Person Executing Roguish Plots."

--bgz

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