[Ads-l] caucus
Stephen Goranson
goranson at DUKE.EDU
Sat Jan 7 17:29:54 UTC 2023
Many have been the votes, understandably without resolution yet, on the etymology of the variously-spelled caucus.
Among those several times raised but usually dismissed or ignored is Cacus (occasionally spelled Caucus). mythical cave dweller.
E.g., though certainly not the earliest published example, 1881:
The Birmingham "Caucus"
Old Cacus to his cave
Pulled cattle by their tails;
New Caucus in conclave
Drives candidates, like nails!
[--but what group uses a negative name?]
sub rosa,
sg
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