Terms Which Have Disappeared

[ChiTownScion]

How 'bout a song about a butcher-boy, a baker-boy, and a fisher-boy . . .
[video=youtube;XN7rcjkiTLE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN7rcjkiTLE[/video]
"Oh! Ma-Ma! (The Butcher Boy)",
by Rudy Vallée and his Connecticut Yankees,
with Red Stanley and The Gentlemen Songsters, 1938.

AKA, C'e La Luna Mezzo Mare.

 

[DecoDame]

Yes, unfortunately human history has had more than it's fair share of high falutin, uppity, bumptious, cocksure, overweening, snooty and impertinent (feel free to kick in if I've left any out) folks who thought that there were those who were created less than themselves.
Whether you believe we were raised up from the clay or climbed down from the trees, it has been the shortfalling of humanity since the get-go.

Hoity-toity?

As in, "The hoity-toity thought themselves naturally superior to the hoi polloi."

 

[LizzieMaine]

"High hats." Also a verb -- "Who's that little tramp think she is, high-hattin' us like that? I remember when she wasn't nothin' but a sardine-cutter."

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Vaughn DeLeath -- Banana Oil

[video=youtube;SFrD-7wR9bc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFrD-7wR9bc[/video]

 

[Fading Fast]

"High hats." Also a verb -- "Who's that little tramp think she is, high-hattin' us like that? I remember when she wasn't nothin' but a sardine-cutter."

This one made me think of "cut," as in Mrs. X "cut" Mrs. Y - meaning she snubbed (another term that is going away) her.

 

[tonyb]

Come to think of it, it has been some time since "cut," meaning insult, has been in common usage. Leastwise in my circles. I recall it used much more frequently a few decades back.

Still, though, I think most native speakers would deduce its meaning from context.

 

[dh66]

Hoity-toity?

As in, "The hoity-toity thought themselves naturally superior to the hoi polloi."

Yes, that is a good one. Aptly conjures the image of those preening nincompoops who foolishly think their offal is somehow less awful than that of the average Joe.

 

[Stanley Doble]

I fail to see what the kerfuffle over 'boy' is. We use it even now. Hell, we even use 'girl'. It means nothing. It's just like "dude", "guy", "Chaps", "Lads"/"Lasses" etc. Meh.

But you're right, there were lots of job-titles like that.

Let's not forget hall-boy, boot-boy, spit-boy, baker's boy, butcher's boy, link-boy, paper-boy, house-boy*, and countless others.

Yes, some of these positions were held by ACTUAL boys (link-boys, in particular), but for most people, it was just a title. Most spit-boys were actually grown men, because of just how hard the work was. Most REAL boys wouldn't have had the strength to do half these jobs. But that said, the titles probably got their names because they originated back in the days when child labour was common.

*I should point out, 'house-boy' in the G.E. held no sexual connotations as it might now. 'House-boy' was the common title for young Asian servant-boys who worked in the houses of wealthy Europeans/Americans during the days of the great empires*.

How about cowboy?

 

[scottyrocks]

There were also many "boy" titled jobs in the Era that were often held by grown men -- elevator boys, delivery boys, messenger boys, bellboys, even batboys. The Brooklyn Dodgers had a longtime batboy who was married with two children, and older than many of the players on the roster.

I think it would be pretty funny to hear an announcer say something such as, 'Ohhh, Johnson broke his bat on that foul tip. Here comes the batman trotting out with another one.' hahaha

 

[Stanley Doble]

Years ago I read a story about life in a Canadian logging camp in the twenties. In this story the new "cheater" (bookkeeper) arrived at the camp and was shown around by the "bull cook" (handyman) since the "push" (foreman) was busy.

The bull cook gave him the lowdown. "She's a reg'lar palace in the woods, but she's highball". Meaning the company was generous in providing the best of food and accommodation, but expected a high output of work and productivity in return.

The same bull cook called radio "the wireless radius machine".

 

[Fading Fast]

It's not gone away, but Stanley Dobie's post made me think about how less often you hear the term "bookkeeper" as everyone is an "accountant" now or "works in accounting," even those who are still doing pure bookkeeping work.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Bookkeepers are accountants in the same way that my grandfather was a petroleum transfer engineer.

 

[HudsonHawk]

Years ago I read a story about life in a Canadian logging camp in the twenties. In this story the new "cheater" (bookkeeper) arrived at the camp and was shown around by the "bull cook" (handyman) since the "push" (foreman) was busy.

The bull cook gave him the lowdown. "She's a reg'lar palace in the woods, but she's highball". Meaning the company was generous in providing the best of food and accommodation, but expected a high output of work and productivity in return.

The same bull cook called radio "the wireless radius machine".

You still hear a lot of those types of things in the oil field. A "wildcatter" may point to a drilling spot, or it may be figured out by a "doodlebugger". Once the rig is in place, the "pusher" is in charge of "nippling up" and all the hands, including the "mudman", "chainman" and "motorman". You may find him on the "monkeyboard", the "possum belly" or in the "doghouse".

 

[HudsonHawk]

It's not gone away, but Stanley Dobie's post made me think about how less often you hear the term "bookkeeper" as everyone is an "accountant" now or "works in accounting," even those who are still doing pure bookkeeping work.

Mrs. Hawk is a CPA, so I hear way more about the accounting business than I'd like to. I hear "bookkeeper" all the time. It's very common in the industry.

 

[Fading Fast]

Bookkeepers are accountants in the same way that my grandfather was a petroleum transfer engineer.

The point I was beating around the bush to make.

 

[Stearmen]

How about this little tike?

I noticed no one identified this little one! I will give you a hint that is so obvious, it is cheating! All I have to say to the winner is, "Bully for You"

 

[2jakes]

I noticed no one identified this little one! I will give you a hint that is so obvious, it is cheating! All I have to say to the winner is, "Bully for You"

Would that outfit be the reason why he had to be the "rough rider" in later years ?

 

[Stearmen]

Would that outfit be the reason why he had to be the "rough rider" in later years ?

Even as an adult, he was known to wear skirts, with accessories made by Tiffany!

 

[2jakes]

Even as an adult, he was known to wear skirts, with accessories made by Tiffany!

I do believe if he were here he would have issues with you & I 'm pretty sure who would win !

And these fellows would be right behind !

Imagine being out there in the wilderness in the cold & no "toilet paper" ? :eeek:

 

[jamespowers]

Bookkeepers are accountants in the same way that my grandfather was a petroleum transfer engineer.

Just as a Garbage Man is now know by the PC term Sanitation Engineer.
I love how people try to make their job look like something it isn't. lol lol