The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WORD ORIGIN

MR. FINK AND HIS BEST FRIEND THEY WERE IN LOVE WITH THE
SAME GIRL AND IN TURN THIS GIRL WAS IN LOVE WITH BOTH
OF THEM, SO THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD HAVE A BOW AND
ARROW DUEL OVER HER. MR. FINK ASKED HIS FRIEND TO PUT
AN APPLE ON HIS HEAD AND HE WOULD PUT ONE ON HIS AND WHO
EVER COULD SHOOT THE APPLE OFF WOULD WIN THE GIRL. AND
MR. FINK, THE BASTARD, SHOT FIRST AND HIT HIS FRIEND
RIGHT HERE (POINTS BETWEEN THE EYES). AND THEY JUST
ADDED THE "RAT" TO "FINK" AND THAT MEANS TO DO YOUR
FRIEND IN.

Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK

James Callow Keyword(s): RATFINK--SLANG

Date learned: 07-25-1968