Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for S226 returned 39 results.
MILITARY EXCLAMATION
AMONG MILITARY PARACHUTISTS, IT IS SAID THAT "GERONIMO"
BECAME A TRADITIONAL SHOUTED EXCLAMATION DURING THE EARLY
YEARS OF AIRBORNE TRAINING. IN 1940, THE SAFETY OF
PARACHUTING, AS WELL AS THE SANITY OF THOSE PARTICIPATING,
WAS IN DOUBT. AN UNKNOWN YOUNG VOLUNTEER IS SAID TO HAVE
SHOUTED "GERONIMO" UPON JUMPING FROM AN AIRCRAFT, IN ORDER
TO PROVE TO HIMSELF, AND ANYONE WHO WOULD BELIEVE HIM,
THAT ONE COULD JUMP FROM AN AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT AND NOT
BE INSANE. THE ASSUMPTION WAS THAT IF ONE COULD RECALL
A NON-SEQUITUR SUCH AS "GERONIMO", ONE'S REASONING
CAPABILITIES MUST BE INTACT. HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED
WHY A MAN, WHO HAS JUST SHOUTED "GERONIMO" IN MID-AIR,
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SANE.
Submitter comment:
THERE WERE ONLY 48 MEN IN THE FIRST AIRBORNE CLASS IN 1940.
THREE 250-FOOT TOWERS, FROM WHICH PARACHUTISTS COULD BE
DROPPED, AND WHICH HAD FORMERLY BEEN USED AT THE NEW YORK
WORLD'S FAIR, WERE PURCHASED AND ASSEMBLED AT FORT BENNING,
GEORGIA AS TRAINING AIDS. THE VOLUNTEER RATE BECAME VERY
HIGH AFTER THE INITIAL SUCCESSFUL JUMPS. IN FACT, MORE THAN
1000 MEN WERE WILLING TO ACCEPT A DEMOTION IN RANK IN ORDER
TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THIS NEW KIND OF UNIT.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; FORT BENNING
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 08-00-1981
LEGEND OF THE FIRST LANGUAGE EVER SPOKEN
IN SAINT JOHN'S GOSPEL HE BEGINS WITH THE WORD WHICH WAS
IN THE BEGINNING. GOD MUST HAVE USED WORDS TO COMMUNICATE,
SO GOD, IN ORDER TO CREATE A LANGUAGE, USED ARAMAIC. HISTORY
RECORDS THAT ARAMAIC IS AN ANCIENT LANGUAGE USED DURING
THE FIRST CIVILIZATION IN HISTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA IN THE
AREA OF THE TIGRIS-EUPHRATES RIVERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 10-17-1983
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GAP BETWEEN THEIR TEETH LIE A LOT. THIS IS
WHERE THE PHRASE "YOU'RE LYING BETWEEN YOUR TEETH" COMES
FROM.
Submitter comment:
SPACE BETWEEN TEETH
"YOU'RE LYING THROUGH YOUR TEETH."
SHE HAS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Folk etymology PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-11-1984
"UFO"
I WAS SETTING UP MY TELESCOPE FOR A NIGHT OF NOT UNUSUAL
OBSERVATION. SUDDENLY, THERE IN THE DEEP BLUE, NORTHERN SKY,
I SPOTTED A TWINKLING STAR-LIKE IMAGE. I QUICKLY
ROTATED MY SCOPE AND AIMED. THERE IT IS....A STRANGE
UNIDENTIFIABLE FLYING OBJECT. "UFO!" I EXCLAIMED. YEAH,
THAT'S WHAT I'LL CALL IT.......A "UFO!"
IT WAS A SILVERY BALL WITH A BAR STICKING OUT. IT LOOKED
LIKE A TOOTSIE-POP SUCKER. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAR WAS A
RED LIGHT. AT THE END WAS A WHITE LIGHT. THE ENTIRE ALIEN
VESSEL DRIFTED FROM WEST TO EAST AND SLOWLY ROTATED, AS
SEEN BY THE REVOLVING BAR. IN TIME, IT DRIFTED OUT OF
SIGHT, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.
Submitter comment:
JAMES KEPT A LOG AND DREW A PICTURE OF HIS SIGHTING. HE
SAID THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A HELICOPTER, AIRPLANE,
NOR SATELLITE. HE ALSO CLAIMED TO BE THE FIRST TO COIN
THE PHRASE "UFO." THEREFORE, IT IS HARD TO TELL IF HE
IS REALLY SERIOUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; IN EMPTY RESERVOIR BEHIND HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
I was once told the term "splitting headache" originated
in ancient Greece. In those times the gods ruled over
the world. The leader of the gods was Zeus. One day he
was complaining of a severe headache, so he called
in the blacksmith god Hephastus to split his skull
and relieve the intense pressure. Hephastus did as he
was told, splitting Zeus's skull. Once this occurred
a full grown woman came out. She was dressed in full
armor and had a large shield and spear. This woman
was the goddess Athena, goddess of wisdom and combat.
This how we got the term splitting headache.
When I was told this story it was told to me in a humorous
way rather than a this-is-how-it-happened tone.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Alba
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Gods SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 00001976 CA
Balinese custom
The land of Bali is Gods' island, the gods own and operate
everything. It is known as the Gods' paradise.
Where learned: Bali ; Indonesia
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Formation BELIEF -- Explanation of a name SPEECH -- Folk etymology SPEECH -- Place |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
Adam's Apple
The lump in the front of the neck is referred to as the Adam's
Apple. This is a very old notion that comes from a story that Adam
ate the apple in the Garden of Eden and a piece of it was caught in
his throat and formed the lump.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Explanation of a name SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 02-02-1992
Love Apple
When the tomato was first introduced in Europe it was called a
"Love Apple."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 02-02-1992
Electronic Data Systems
My father is a systems analyst that supports General Motors
Corporation. He has many opportunities to work with GM's computer
specialists, Electronic Data Systems. He said that sometimes the
EDS technicians are so unhappy and surly that he renamed "E.D.S.",
"Every Day Sucks."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Explanation
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
NAMING PLACE: BATON ROUGE (LOUISIANA)
THE CREEK INDIANS IN DECIDING WHO WANTED WAR OR
PEACE, THREW A RED STICK (BATON ROUGE) IN A
POWWOW CIRCLE. WAR WON OUT. AS A RESULT OF THE
WAR, THE CREEKS WERE CHASED OUT OF LOUISIANA. FOR
RETALIATION, THE CREEKS SLAUGHTERED SOME PEOPLE
IN FORT MIMS, ALABAMA IN 1814. ANDREW JACKSON
STARTED FIGHTING THESE INDIANS AND, AS A RESULT,
CAME INTO NATIONAL PROMINENCE AS A HERO.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans ; ON A TRIP
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
BED:
IT IS SAID TO BE BAD LUCK TO GET OUT OF BED ON THE WRONG
SIDE, THAT IS, THE LEFT SIDE. A PERSON WHO IS HAVING A
BAD DAY IS OFTEN SAID TO HAVE "GOTTEN UP ON THE WRONG
SIDE."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 00001973 (ASSUMED)
NICKNAME
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CUSTOMARY TO GIVE BABIES LONG NAMES
AND THEN ABBREVIATE THEM FOR EVERYDAY USE; THUS WILLIAM
WAS CALLED BILL AND JIM FOR JAMES... THESE WERE CALLED
"NURSE NAMES." AS THE CHILD GREW TO BE AN ADULT, THESE
NURSE NAMES STUCK, ALTHOUGH SOME RECEIVED A SPECIAL
NAME FOR SOME PROMINENT TRAIT AND WERE CALLED SOMETHING
ELSE INSTEAD, AS CURLY OR BALDY OR RED. THESE WERE
CALLED "EKE-NAMES" FROM THE SAXON FOR "ALSO."
SLURRED OVER IN COMMON SPEECH, THESE ALSO NAMES BECAME
NEKE NAMES, THEN TO NICKNAMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entertainment: Gambling
In poker, a full house - aces and eights- is a Dead Man's Hand. Supposedly Wild Bill Hickok had this hand when he died.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out/ replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Entertainment: Gambling
Belief:
Aces and Eights - this is the Dead Man's Hand. Wild Bill Hickok was killed in a poler game with this hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] was written twice and crossed out each time/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Language
Etymology of "shotgun"
I remember how in grade school days my brother and I would yell out "shotgun" as we ran to the car for a ride. This word claimed a seat by the window for whoever could shout first.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Car ; ETYMOLOGY ; Language ; Origin ; Shotgun ; SLANG ; Window ; WORDS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Etymology
Origin of name:
Cornersville, TN gets its name from the fact that it is located in the corner of four counties.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Cornersville, Counties ; ETYMOLOGY ; Language ; NAME ; Origin ; REGIONAL ; Tennessee ; WORD
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Etymology
Origin of Name:
Hungry Mother State Park gets its name from the little boy who is said to have been found wandering through the park (which was at the time only pasture) crying and saying "Hungry, Mother." Later the child's mother was found dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): CHILD ; Dead ; ETYMOLOGY ; HUNGRY ; Legend ; MOTHER ; NAME ; Origin ; Pasture
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Old Cockney men have slang sayings involving rhyming pairs.
Example--"Up the apples and pears" meaning up the stairs.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Naming
Boot Hill cemetery in Dodge City was so named because most of the men buried there, died with their boots on.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology |