1848 Americanisms for the letter J

Continuing with Americanisms for the letter J

TO JAB. To strike or thrust with a knife; as, 'he jabbed a

knife into me.' JACKASSABLE. At a call for a meeting of citizens to repair

a corduroy road in Michigan, the Niles Advertiser winds up

with the following stanza:

Those who would travel it
Should turn out and gravel it;
For now it's not passable,
Nor even jackassable.

Compare Boatable.
JAG. A small load.—Forby. Webster.

As there was very little money in the country, the bank bought a good jag on't in Europe.—Maj. Downing"s Letters, p. 168.

JAIL BIRD. A prisoner; one who has been confined in

prison.—Webster.

JAW. In low language, gross abuse.—Johnson.
TO JAW. To scold; to clamor; to abuse grossly.—Todd.

He never heard freedom of speech afore, that feller, I guess, unless it was somebody a.jautiii' of him.—Sam Slide in England, ch. 20.

TO JEOPARDIZE. To expose to loss or injury.—Webster. This verb is often seen in the debates of Congress, as they are reported in the newspapers. It is, doubtless, a corruption of the ancient verb to jeopard, as deputize is of depute.— Pickering. This word is much used in the United States, and less frequently in England. •

The profound respect for the cause of truth which led Mr. Tooke not to jeopardize its interests by any hasty assumption of its name and pretensions for a discovery yet incomplete, constitutes one of his surest holds upon posterity.—London Athcnaum, March 18, 1848.

JERKED MEAT. Beef and other kinds of fresh meat dried in the open air without salt. In Lower Canada and Newfoundland, fish are dried in the same manner.

In genuine Western style they welcomed me with their dough biscuits md jerked venison.—Carton's New Purchase, Vol. II. p. 238.

THE JIG IS UP, i. e. the game is up; it is all over with me. The time was when I could cut pigeon wings, and perform the double shuffle with precision and activity; but those days are over now—the jig is up.—Kendalfs Santa Ft Expedition, Vol. I. p 62.

JIMINY. By Jiminy! An exclamation. Originally, gemini, or the Castor and Pollux of ancient mythology; names by which the old Romans used to swear.

JIMSON. (Strammonium datura.) The popular name of a poisonous weed which grows at the West and South. It bears beautiful flowers, but has a nauseous smell. In the villages on the margins of the Western rivers it is a great annoyance. Its name Jimson is supposed to be a corruption ofJamestown, the place whence it is said to have been brought. It is used in medicine in spasmodic asthma.— Flint's Mississippi Valley.

JOBBER. In the United States this word is applied to wholesale merchants, who operate between the importer and retailer. Importers usually sell only by the package. The jobber buys by the package and sells by the piece. The retailer buys of the jobber, and sells in smaller quantities. In England the word is used in an analogous sense, as of one who buys and sells stocks.

There have been at times a good deal of jealousy and dissension between ihejohln i • and auctioneers. They are in some measure rivals. Both sell to the retail dealer; and the jobbers complain that the auctioneer injures their business by selling as low to the country and retail merchant as to them.—Perils of Pearl Street, p. 102.

JOLLIFICATION. A scene of festivity or merriment. Used only in familiar language.

Mr. Tolfrey's narrative of salmon and trout fishing, and otter shooting, with private theatricals, and endless jollifications, come before us in a startling contrast to the received ideas of colonial service.—Land. Spectator.

I have been already twice to the top of Vesuvius: the first time we had a jollification near the crater—our dinner being entirely cooked in one of the/umaro/i.—Letter from Naples. London Athenccum, Dec. 6, 1745.

It was determined to commemorate our safe deliverance by a special jollification.—Carltm, The New Purchase, Vol. I. p. 224.

JOSEPH. A very old-fashioned riding coat for women, scarcely now to be seen or heard of.—Forby's Vocabulary. A garment made of Scotch plaid, for an outside coat or habil, was worn in New England about the year 1830, called a Joseph, by some a Josey.

Olivia was drawn as an Amazon, sitting upon a bank of flowers, dressed in a green Joseph.—Goldsmith, Vicar of Wdkefield.

NOT BY A JUGFULL, i. e. on no consideration; on no account.

Downingville is as sweet as a rose. But 'taint so in New York, not iy a jug full.—Maj. Downing, May-day in New York.

TO JUMP AT. To embrace with eagerness; as, 'I made him an offer, and he jumped at it.'

JUMPER. A couple of hickory poles so bent that the runners and shafts are of the same piece, with a crate placed on four props, complete this primitive species of sledge; and when the crate is filled with hay, and the driver well wrapped in a buffalo robe, the " turn out " is about as comfortable a one as a man could wish.—Hoffman, Winter in the West, p. 200.

JUNK-BOTTLE. The ordinary black glass porter-bottle.

JUST NOW. Lately; now; presently; immediately. This very common phrase is, perhaps, most generally used in the western counties.—Halliwell.The word is used in the same senses among ourselves. Thus, many persons say, 'I was there just now,' i. e. a short time ago; and also, ' I will be therejust now,' i. e. presently. This last use, however, is not regarded as correct.

1880 Advertisement with Prices Historical Writers can use.

This comes from the Lancaster Daily Newspaper from June 1880. The advertisement ran down the full length of the newspaper. The images you see are enlarged and as with all my images you can click for the enlarged copy for better readability. Since it is Fashion Accessory Saturdays I thought this a fitting post.

1848 Americanisms for the Letter K

Continuing with Americanisms with the letter K

KATYDID. (Platyphyllum concavum.) The popular name of a species of grasshopper; so called from its peculiar note.

KEDGE. Brisk; in good health and spirits. Ex. 'How do you do to-day V I am pretty kedge. It is used only in a few of the country towns of New England.—Pickering. Provincial in England.

TO KEEL OVER. A nautical term; to capsize or upset, and metaphorically applied to a sudden prostration.

As it seems pretty evident that the sovereigns of Europe, instead of occupying or sharing thrones, are predestined to the walks of private life, it would be highly proper to cultivate in them a spirit of self-abnegation and humility. If the royal parents wish to see their offspring " let down easy" from their high estate, they will adopt this course. Keel over they must, and a gradual careen would be much better than a sudden capsize. Now that the people are assuming the rights and privileges of sovereignty, we trust that they will have some consideration for princes in distress.—NeioYork Sunday Dispatch.

KEEP. Food; subsistence; keeping. In a letter to his brother, Bishop Heber, speaking of Bishops' College costing so much, says:

Besides it has turned out so expensive in the monthly bills and necessary keep of its inmates, that my resources, &,c.—Vol. II. p. 319.

The cottager either purchased hay for the keep [of the cow], or paid for her run in the straw-yard.—Edinburgh Review, Vol. LXI. p. 245.

TO KEEP. The phrase to keep shop is often shortened into to keep; as, 'Where do you keep now 1' i. e. where is your place of business. Also, in the sense of dwelling, which use of the word is provincial in the eastern counties of England.

TO KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, is to continue firm, unmoved.

My friend, said he, don't cry for spilt milk; keep a stiff upper lip; all will come out right enough yet.—Knickerbocker Magazine, Vol. XXV.

Tut, tut, Major; keep a stiff upper lip, and you'll bring him this time.— Chron. of PinevUle, p. 150.

TO KEEP COMPANY. To court. A common term in the interior parts of New England, applied to a man whose visits to a lady are frequent, with the intention of gaining her hand. 'He keeps company with her,' i. e. he is courting her, or ' They are keeping company,' i. e. are courting.

A young tailoress got a verdict against Mr. B , a steady farmer

who " kept company " with her some months, and appointed a day for the wedding. [But subsequently changed his mind.]—N. Y. Com. Adv.

TO KEEP IT UP. To prolong a debauch. 'He kept it up finely last night;' a metaphor drawn from a game of shuttlecock.—Grose, Slang Dictionary.

KEEPING-ROOM. A common sitting-room; the parlor in New England. The term is chiefly used in the interior, although it may sometimes be heard in the sea-port towns. The same expression is used in Norfolk, England, for the "general sittingroom of the family, or common parlor."—Forby's Norf. Glos.

A Funny Mistake & Cheapest Book in the World

Is the title given to this article from the Jan. 7, 1880 The Princeton Union, Princeton, Minn. newspaper. It's an interesting article and an enjoyable read. Following the article is an advertisement I thought some of you might enjoy for the Cheapest Book in the World.

A Funny Mistake
The Other day an old country woman drove up in her wagon to a well-known shoe store and entering the same, thus accosted the urbane proprietor: "I want to see them 'ere 'Ninety-five' Rubber Boots advertised in all the papers. I'm thinking they must be cheap at ninety-five cents, and I'll just take home two pairs to the old man."
It was difficult at first to convince the old lady that the figures "95" referred to quality, not price, and that the boots were 95 percent sterling pure; but when she was shown a sample cut open to display the interior, and saw that the soles were half an inch thick of solid rubber, and that the upper and legs were double thick, she was contented to pay, not ninety-five cents, but several dollars, for a single pair of the "Candee 95 Per Cent. Boots." believing they would be the cheapest in the end for the "old man." The store keeper punched the date of the sale in the legs so as to fix the expiration of the three months' warrant, and assured her in case they did not stand the warrant, he would give a new pair free of charge.

end article

1882 Fashions Continue

Last week I started posting images for 1882 fashions. Today we continue Fashion Wednesdays with ten additional images of 1882 fashions. Remember to click the image for a larger view of the outfits.

Lead Cake

Okay so this is for real, the recipe is for Lead Cake. I only found one recipe for this so it might be unique to this cookbook which was first published in French and English. But it is unusual and I like finding strange tidbits to share with all of you.

Lead cake.
Take two quarts of flour, make a well in the centre, and fill it with one ounce of salt, two and a half ounces of sugar, two pounds of butter, and twelve eggs, mix well together and roll out the paste three times, if too thick add a little milk; leave the paste on a wooden slab for half an hour, then add half a pound of butter, roll it out four times and fold into a thick cake, cut out the edges with a tin cutter, prick the top of the cake, egg over with whipped yolks of egg, and bake for an hour and a half.
Source: 366 Menus out of 1200 Recipes ©1882

1848 Americanisms for the Letter I

Continuing with Americanisms for the letter I

I DAD! An exclamation used in the Western States.

"I dad! if I didn't snatch up Ruff and kiss him." Here the emotion of the old man made a pause.—Carton, The New Purchase, Vol. I. p. 179.

IF SO BE AS HOW. A vulgar expression used by uneducated people in the interior parts of this country and in England.

Ill. The common abbreviation for Illinois.

ILLY. A word occasionally used by writers of an inferior class, who do not seem to perceive that ill is itself an adverb, without the termination ly.

TO IMPROVE. To occupy; to make use of, employ.— Pickering's Vocab. t( This word," says Mr. Pickering, "in the first sense, is in constant use in all parts of New England; but in the second sense (when applied to persons, as in the following example,) it is not so common."

In action of trespass against several defendants, the plaintiffs may, after issue is closed, strike out any of them for the purpose of improving them as witnesses.—Swift's System of the Colony Laws of Connecticut, Vol. II.

Dr. Franklin, in a letter to Dr. Webster, dated Dec. 26th, 1789, has the following remarks: "When I left New England in the year 1723, this word had never been used among us, as far as I know, but in the sense of ameliorated or made better, except once, in a very old book of Dr. Mather's, entitledRemarkable Providences."

Ann Cole, a person of serious piety, living in Hartford, in 1662, wu taken with very strange fits, whereon her tongue was improved by a demon, to express things unknown to herself.—Cotton Mather, Magnolia, Book VI.

IMPROVEMENT. The part of a discourse intended to enforce and apply the doctrines, is called the improvement.—Webster.

The conclusion is termed, somewhat inaccurately, making an improvement of the whole. The author, we presume, means, deducing from the whole what may contribute to the general improvement.—British Critic, Vol. I. p. 379.

IMPROVEMENTS. Valuable additions or meliorations; as buildings, clearings, drains, fences on a farm.—Webster.

IMMEDIATELY, for as soon as. Ex. 'The deer fell dead immediately they shot him.'

IMMIGRANT. A person that removes into a country for the purpose of a permanent residence.—Webster.

IMMIGRATION. (Lat. immigratio.) The passing or removing into a country for the purpose of a permanent residence. — Webster. An" entering or passing into a place.—Todd. Knowles. Richardson.

The immigrations of the Arabians into Europe, and the Crusades,

produced numberless accounts, partly true and partly fabulous, of the

wonders seen in Eastern countries.— Warton's Hist. Eng. Poetry, Vol. I.

Immigration has doubtless been a prolific source of multiplying words.

—Hamilton, Nugce Literaria:, p. 381.

Mr. Pickering, in his Vocabulary, observes that this word, as well as immigrant, and the verb to immigrate, were first used in this country by Dr. Belknap, in his History of New Hampshire, who gives his reasons -for their use. Immigrant is original with Dr. B.; but the others have long been used by good English anthors, th ough of course less frequently than by American writers, who have more need of them. Ind. The common abbreviation for Indiana.

INDIAN BED. An Indian bed of clams is made by setting a number of clams together on the ground with the hinge uppermost, and then kindling over them a fire of brushwood, which is kept burning till they are thoroughly roasted. This is the best way of roasting clams, and is often practised by picnic parties.

INDIAN FILE. Single file; the usual way in which the Indians traverse the woods or march to battle, one following after and treading in the footsteps of the other.

INDIAN GIVER. When an Indian gives anything, he expects an equivalent in return, or that the same thing may be given back to him. This term is applied by children in New York and the vicinity to a child who, after having given away a thing, wishes to have it back again.

INDIAN MEAL. Meal made from Indian corn. INFLUENTIAL. Having influence.—Pickering, Vocabulary.

Persons who are strangers to the influential motives of the day.—Marshall, Life of Washington, Vol. V. p. 380.

This word has been called an Americanism; but sucfi is not the case. "I once," said Canning to Mr. Rush, " had a skirmish about language with him, (Mr. Pinckney, of Maryland, our ambassador,) but he worsted me. 1 said there was no such word as influential, except in America; but he convinced me that it was originally carried over from England." Lord Stafford has remarked, that it was so good a word, they ought to bring it back. "Yes," said Mr. Canning, " it is a very good word, and I know no reason why it should have remained in America, but that we lost the thing."—Rush, Mem. of a Res. at London, p. 260.

I take the following examples from Richardson:

And now our overshadow'd souls (to whose beauties stars were foils) may be exactly emblem'd by those crusted globes, whose influentialemissions are intercepted by the interposal of the benighting element, while the purer essence is imprisoned within the narrow compass of a centre.— Glantrille.

Thy influential vigor reinspires

This feeble frame, dispels the shade of death,

And bids me throw myself on God in prayer.—Thomson, Sickness.

IN FOR IT. Engaged in a thing from which there is no retreating.

You may twitch at your collar and wrinkle your brow;
But you're up on your legs, and you're in for it now.—O. W. Holmes,
Poems, p. 144.

TO INHEAVEN. A word invented by the Boston transcendental ists.

The one circumflovvs and inheavms us. The infinite Father bears us in his bosom, shepherd and flock.—Margaret. p. 412.

1882 Fashions Hat & Bonnets

Below are 1882 hats and bonnets.

1848 Americanisms for the letter H

Continuing Americanisms with the letter H.


HABITAN. (French.) The lower class of Canadians of French origin.
My coachman was a Habitan, and I had a fine opportunity of studying the conflicting traits of character which distinguish the race.—Jjanmaris Tour to the Saguenay.
HACK. A hackney coach. The term hack is also frequently applied by women to any article of dress, as a bonnet, shawl, &c., which is kept for every day use.
TO HAIL FROM. A phrase probably originating with seamen or boatmen, and meaning to come from, to belong to; as, 'He hails from Kentucky,' i. c. he is a native of Kentucky.
HAINT, for have not. A contraction much used in common conversation in New England.
HALF COCK. 'To go off at half cock,' is a metaphorical expression borrowed from the language of sportsmen, and is applied to a person who attempts a thing in a hurry without due preparation, and consequently fails.
Mr. Clayton of Georgia is a fine speaker; he is always ready, and never goes off Jutlf cnck.—Crockett, Tour down East.
HALF SEAS OVER. Intoxicated; drunk. A sailor's expression.
•
HALVES. An exclamation entitling the person making it to the half of anything found by his companion. In the Craven Dialect, says Mr. Carr, on such occasions, if the finder be quick he exclaims, ' No halves—finder keeper, loser seeker,' to destroy the right of the claim.
And he who sees you stoop to th' ground,
Cries halves! to ev'rything you've found.—Savage, Hor. to Satva.
HAMMER AND TONGS. In a noisy, furious manner. Thus, 'They went at it hammer and tongsj is said of persons quarrelling. 'To live hammer and tongs,' is said of married people who seldom agree.—Holloway.
Jonathan "and the Spaniard will be at hammer and tongs.—Montreal Courier.
HAMMOCK. (Carib amdca.) A swinging-bed. This word, now in such general use, especially among seamen, and the etymology of which has been so much disputed, is undoubtedly of West Indian origin.
Cotton for the making of hamaccas, which are Indian beds.—Raleigh, Dtk. of Guiana, 1596.
The Brazilians call their beds hamacas; they are a sheet laced at both ends, and so they sit rocking themselves in them.—Sir R. Hawkins, Voy. to South Sea.
HAND AND GLOVE. Intimate, familiar; i. e. as closely united as a hand and its glove. 'They are hand and glove together,' meaning very intimate, is a common idiom here
as in England.
TO HANDLE. To manage, to overcome an opponent; particularly in wrestling. Ex. 'You can't handle him.'
HANDS OFF. A vulgar phrase for keep off; forbear.— Johnson.
They cut a stag into parts; but as they were entering upon the dividend, "Hands off!" says the lion.—L''Estrange.

Meat Knowing the various parts

Below are four images from Miss Beecher's Domestic Receipt Book ©1871. They are diagrams of where various cuts of meat are from. The list below each image speaks to the use for the various parts.


Beef.
The Sirloin is to be roasted, and it is considered the best piece for steaks. The piece next forward of the Sirloin is about as good as any for roasting.
The Rump is to be corned, or cooked a la mode.
The Round is used for coming, or'a la mode.
The Edge or Etch Bone is corned, or for soup.
The Rock or Shin is used for soups.
The Rib pieces of the fore quarter are used as roasting pieces. The first cut, which is next the Sirloin, is the best, and the others are better for corning.
The Head is used for mince pies, and the Tongue for smoking. The Legs are used for soups.
The remaining pieces are used for salting down, stews. soups, and mince pies, according to various tastes.
The Tallow is to be tried up for candles.


Veal.
The Loin is used for roa stingy
The Fillet (which is the leg and hind flank) is used for cutlets, or to stuff and boil, or to stuff and roast.
The Chump end of the loin is used for roasting.
The Knuckles are used for broths.
The Neck is used for stews, pot pies, and broths, as are most of the remaining pieces.
Many persons roast the fore quarter, which is divided into two pieces, called the brisket, or breast, and the rack.


Mutton.
The Leg is boiled, or stuffed and roasted. The Loin is roasted. The rest are for boiling, 01 corning. The Loin is chopped into pieces for broilmg cane* Mutten Chops
The Leg is often cut into slices and broiled. Many cure and smoke the leg, and call it smoked venison.


Pork.
The Shoulder and Ham are used for smoking.
The Spare Rib is used for roasting, and often is used a 3 including all the ribs.
The Shoulder sometimes is fcorned and boiled.
That which is to be salted down must have all the lean taken out, which is to be used for sausages, or broiling.
The Feet use for jelly, head cheese, and souse.

1882 Fashions

It's Fashion Wednesday and today we're looking at some of the fashions from 1882. I have over a hundred images for this year but I'm only going to select ten for today's post. Next week I'll post another ten. Remember to click the image and a larger one will appear.

1875 Magazine Subscriptions

Magazine subscriptions were a part of our 19th Century Ancestors/Character's lives. Below is a list of magazines and the various prices for the subscriptions. I found this in an 1875 Newspaper advertisement and enlarged it so that it is readable. Click the image for the larger image.

1848 Americanisms for the letter G

Continuing with Americanisms from 1848.

Ga. The abbreviation for Georgia.
GAB. Loquacity; prate; idle talk. This is an old word, and still has a place in the provincial glossaries of England.
GABBLEMENT. Gabble. A Southern word.
"This court's got as good ears as any man," said the magistrate, " but they aint for to hear no old woman's gahblement, though it's under oath."— Chron. of Pineville.
GADABOUT. One who walks about without business.—Webster.
GAFF. An artificial spur put upon game-cocks.
GAL-BOY. In New England, a romping girl; called also a
torn-boy. GALLOWSES. Suspenders; braces.
His skills [pantaloons] were supported by no braces or gallowses, and resting on his hips.—Margaret, p. 9.
GAMBREL. A hipped roof to a house, so called from its resemblance to the hind leg of a horse, which by farriers is termed the gambrel.
Here and there was a house in the then new style, three cornered, with gambled roof and dormer windows.—Margaret, p. 33.
GAME LEG. A lame leg. A term not peculiar to America.
GAMMON. Humbug; deceit; lies. Any assertion which is not strictly true, or, professions believed to be insincere; as, 'I believe you're gammoning,' or, 'That's all gammon;' meaning, you are jesting with me, or, that's all a farce. The gentry say death and distress are all gammon, And shut up their hearts to the lab'rer's appeal.—Punch, pi. 54.
GANDER-PULLING. A brutal species of amusement practised in Nova Scotia. We quote Judge Halliburton's account of it from the Sayings and Doings of Sam Slick: "' But describe this gander-pulling.'
"' Well, I'll tell you how it is,' saw I. 'First and foremost, a ring-road is formed, like a small race-course; then two great long posts is fixed into the ground, one on each side of the road, and a rope made fast by the eends to each post, leavin' the middle of the rope to hang loose in a curve. Well, then they take a gander and pick his breast as clean as a baby's, and then grease it most beautiful all the way from the breast to the head, till it becomes as slippery as a soaped eel. Then they tie both his legs together with a strong piece of cord, of the size of a halyard, and hang him by the feet to the middle of the swingin' rope, with his head downward. All the youngsters, all round the country, come to see the sport, mounted a horseback.
"' Well, the owner of the goose goes round with his hat, and gets so much a-piece in it from every one that enters for the " Pullin'," and when all have entered, they bring their horses in a line, one arter another, and at the words "Go a-head !" off they set, as hard as they can split; and as they pass under the goose, make a grab at him, and whoever carries off die head wins.
"' Well, the goose dodges his head and flaps his wings, and swings about so, it aint no easy matter to clutch his neck; and when you do, it's so greassy, it slips right through the fingers like nothin'. Sometimes it takes so long, that the horses are fairly beat out, and can't scarcely raise a gallop; and then a man stands by the post, with a heavy loaded whip, to lash 'em on, so that they mayn't stand under the goose, which aint fair. The whoopin,' and hollerin', and screamin', and bettin', and excitement, beats all; there aint hardly no sport equal to it. It is great fun to all except the poor goosey-gander.'"
GAP. This pure English word is used properly of any breach of continuity, as of the line of a saw's edge, or of the line of a mountain, as projected ou the horizon. Hence it is applied to such openings in a mountain as are made by a river, or even a high road. Thus the Water-Gap; and, in Virginia, Brown's Gap, Rockfiah Gap, &c.
GAT. (Dutch.) A gate or passage. A term applied to several places in the vicinity of New York, as Barnegat, Barnes's gate; Hellegat, now called Hell Gate.

1882 Fashion Accessories

Below are various fashion accessories from 1882.