[Ads-l] "big cheese" 1815

[Mark Mandel]

In the Scottish quote, is "I did a real..." a typo for "I did a read..."?

On Mon, May 29, 2023, 8:10 PM Baker, John <JBAKER at stradley.com> wrote:

> ...
> The Scottish example seems to me to be more contemporary in tone than I
> would expect for something written in 1815, but I am hardly in a position
> to express a knowledgeable view.  Again, it reads as follows:
>
> 8.12.15 Ballater Hse. From Wm Farquharson of Monaltrie. I've sent my seal
> and my tartan sample I'll give to you in Edinburgh. Nobody's prouder than
> me to be a Highlander particularly since Waterloo. I'd love to sign the
> address. I'm a constituent member of the Highland Soc for Scotland. My
> seal's 180 yrs old. We're the oldest clan name. My writing room is
> furnished in Farquharson tartan.
> * I did a real in the Garb at the Highland Soc of London in 1793.* Some
> parvenus seek to share my honour as a Big
> Highland Cheese. I'm starting a masonic lodge here.
>
> John Baker
>
> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> On Behalf Of
> Jonathan Lighter
> Sent: Monday, May 29, 2023 5:00 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: "big cheese" 1815
>
> External Email - Think Before You Click
>
>
> Need I add that I'm skeptical of both the Scottish and Kiwi exx.?
>
> Especially since "Big Highland Cheese" includes a very unusual tmesis,
> which seems to suggest that "big cheese" was already lexicalized and
> familiar.
>
> Just my 2c.
>
> JL
>
> On Mon, May 29, 2023 at 3:51 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
> <mailto:wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> > FWIW, big cheeses were sometimes a big deal.
> >
> > 1802 The Wasp (Hudson, N.Y.) (July 31) 2: The following Toast, drank
> [sic]
> > by the Cheshire folks, who made the big Cheese [sic] for Mr.
> > Jefferson....May the splendour of the Republican SUN continue to eclipse
> > the twinklings of the Western Lightning Bug.
> >
> > 1828 Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Phila.) (Nov. 14, 1828) 3: "A
> > BIG CHEESE. The Berkshire American states that Mr. Israel Cole, of North
> > Adams, has made a "hundred pound cheese to be presented to Jackson in
> case
> > he was elected President."
> >
> > 1885 Buffalo [N.Y.] Evening News (Nov. 7) 4: "FREE SHOW!" The Two Big
> > Cheese [sic] CITY OF BUFFALO, 3398 lbs., VILLAGE OF AURORA 3394 lbs., Are
> > now on exhibition at our store.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Mon, May 29, 2023 at 2:14 PM Steven Losie <stevenlosie at gmail.com
> <mailto:stevenlosie at gmail.com>>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> In case nobody has seen it, Green's Dictionary of Slang cites an 1885
> >> newspaper article in New Zealand for "big cheese":
> >>
> >> [begin quote]
> >> What attraction is there for Ken at the manager’s? Is it to see that big
> >> cheese?
> >> [end quote]
> >> Source: Observer and Freelance (Wellington, NZ) 5 Sept. 1885 p.4/2
> >>
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> >
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