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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

The hillbillies say it all the time and we don’t even *have* black people here.

I have no idea where/when/how the phrase originated.


20 posted on 10/25/2012 11:33:34 AM PDT by Salamander (I think I need some rest but sleeping don't come very easy...in a straight white vest.)
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To: Salamander
I have no idea where/when/how the phrase originated.

For years people have "shucked" corn, removing the papery husk and silk from the ears. Peas are also "shucked" from their pods. These labor intensive tasks were often accomplished by several people working together, sitting on the back porch around a washtub full of vegetables that were to be shucked of their inedible portions. Many hands made the work go quickly and gossip among the workers relieved the boredom.

I believe "jive" started as a reference to early jazz music which extended to include dance done to "jive" music. Ultimately "jive" included the people dancing to the jive music, interpreted as silly or uninhibited. The gossip then could be jive or silly talk.

Regards,
GtG

PS People used to "shuck" their clothes before skinny dipping at the 'ol swimmin' hole. Archaic English?

37 posted on 10/25/2012 1:40:59 PM PDT by Gandalf_The_Gray (I live in my own little world, I like it 'cuz they know me here.)
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