[Ads-l] Paws off Pompey

[Jonathan Lighter]

Looks to me like Britain is the only likely referent.

JL

On Thu, Apr 25, 2024 at 5:26 PM Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:

> Pompey is a known nickname for the seaport Portsmouth,  England.
> Napoleon has also sometimes (less often) been compared to Pompey.
> In this early print (note no comma suggesting Napoleon and Pompey are
> appositives) is Pompey meant as representing England?
> Enlarge the print to read the words.
> https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-7101
>
> Stephen Goranson
>
> paws off
> hands off
> Pompey
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>


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