Author Topic: "Don't touch that dial"  (Read 2994 times)

Offline Forty Rod

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"Don't touch that dial"
« on: March 09, 2015, 12:15:26 PM »
Just got an email from Mari Todd about words an phrases from times gone by.
 
Seeing as I'm starting work on a new story set in the Western U.S. ca 1938, it was very timely.  I have been researching this very subject so that my story will be "authentic" without losing meaning and / or understandability.  I don't mind sending the reader to the dictionary, but have found that new word, obsolete words, and phrases are often not well covered... and I don't want to make anything so vague that the reader loses interest and throw the book away.
 
So after I wrote back the Mari asking for more help, it occurred to me that I have one of the world's greatest resources for this sort of thing right here, so if you have a favorite or well-remembered old timey word or phrase, or even a story that would fit this need, please send it along.  Don't forget occupational, military, religious, or old family words and sayings, too.  From an era of nonsensical musical lyrics we should include them as well.
 
If I use it I'll be happy to credit my sources in the Acknowledgements section of the book.
 
Thanks.
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Offline Blair

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Re: "Don't touch that dial"
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2015, 02:37:54 PM »
4t R,

Sounds like a fun posting.

I'll start with a term I heard as a kid growing up in Kansas.
 "hotter than a 2 dollar pistol"

I have come to understand that term in at least two ways. but will wait until what others may suggest.
My best,
 Blair
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"In times of war and not before,
God and the soldier we adore.
But in times of peace and all things right,
God is forgotten and the soldier slighted"
by Rudyard Kipling.
Blair Taylor
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Offline dusty texian

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Re: "Don't touch that dial"
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2015, 02:54:20 PM »
Forty Rod , here is one I still use when describing how far from one place to another. (As the Crow flies) . The Grand Kids look a bit confused at times.,,,,DT

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Re: "Don't touch that dial"
« Reply #3 on: Today at 03:26:14 AM »

Offline Sir Charles deMouton-Black

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Re: "Don't touch that dial"
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2015, 02:59:39 PM »
have a look through books or diaries written in the day or recently afterwards. I have a copy of A TEXAS COWBOY, by Charles A. Siringo, 1886. If I find some time after i file my taxes I'll see if anything pops up.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=siringo+a+texas+cowboy&sts=t&x=59&y=4
NCOWS #1154, SCORRS, STORM, BROW, 1860 Henry, Dirty Rat 502, CHINOOK COUNTRY
THE SUBLYME & HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT (SHOTS)
Those who are no longer ignorant of History may relive it,
without the Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
With apologies to George Santayana & W. S. Churchill

"As Mark Twain once put it, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.”

Offline Sir Charles deMouton-Black

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Re: "Don't touch that dial"
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2015, 10:43:43 AM »
How about this book from 1848;

http://www.merrycoz.org/voices/bartlett/AMER02.HTM

I have seen a few expressions

"'gathrins"  short form of "30 years gatherings" tongue in cheek expression meaning all the stuff gathered by a poor itinerant cowboy during his travels.

"Soogans" Northern Plains bedroll based on quilts in a canvas roll/bed cover.
NCOWS #1154, SCORRS, STORM, BROW, 1860 Henry, Dirty Rat 502, CHINOOK COUNTRY
THE SUBLYME & HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT (SHOTS)
Those who are no longer ignorant of History may relive it,
without the Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
With apologies to George Santayana & W. S. Churchill

"As Mark Twain once put it, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.”

Offline Sir Charles deMouton-Black

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Re: "Don't touch that dial"
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2015, 10:55:57 AM »
here is a site with video tutorials. (Very slow to load.)

http://learn-english.wonderhowto.com/how-to/use-slang-from-19th-century-america-248714/

P.S. I misread the question. the period you want is 1938. The above link has a side bar for Texas slang, that might help.
NCOWS #1154, SCORRS, STORM, BROW, 1860 Henry, Dirty Rat 502, CHINOOK COUNTRY
THE SUBLYME & HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT (SHOTS)
Those who are no longer ignorant of History may relive it,
without the Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
With apologies to George Santayana & W. S. Churchill

"As Mark Twain once put it, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.”

Offline Sir Charles deMouton-Black

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Re: "Don't touch that dial"
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2015, 06:20:55 PM »
So! You need 1938, Eh?  The following is a universal American slang dictionary. The right hand column shows the time frame that the term came into use. it works best if you know a word and wish to check it out.

An example is "shotgun wedding"

http://www.alphadictionary.com/slang/S.html
NCOWS #1154, SCORRS, STORM, BROW, 1860 Henry, Dirty Rat 502, CHINOOK COUNTRY
THE SUBLYME & HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT (SHOTS)
Those who are no longer ignorant of History may relive it,
without the Blood, Sweat, and Tears.
With apologies to George Santayana & W. S. Churchill

"As Mark Twain once put it, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.”

 

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