The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WORD ORIGINS

HOW 'BOUT THE WORD HUNCH--YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU HAVE A
HUNCH SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WELL, A LONG TIME
AGO THEY THOUGHT THAT DEFORMED PEOPLE HAD A SPECIAL
CONNECTION WITH THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. AND SUCH A PERSON
WAS LIKELY TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A HUMP OR HUNCH ON
HIS BACK. SINCE THESE PEOPLE COULD SUPPOSEDLY LOOK
INTO THE FUTURE, ANYBODY NOW WHO HAS LITTLE FLASHES
OF INSIGHT HAS A "HUNCH."

Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

Date learned: 08-06-1968