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sockdologizing

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April 14, 2015, 19:43
Kalleh
sockdologizing
Today is the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln's assassination. There was a piece in the paper about the last line he heard (apparently one of the funniest in the play) before he was killed, which was: "Don't know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal, you sockdologizing old man trap!"

Sockdologizing is new to me. Apparently its origin is from the early 1800s, which makes sense, I guess. Have you heard of it?
April 15, 2015, 01:47
arnie
It's interesting in that the word is a nonce word coined by the British author of the play from the (then) American slang sockdolager to give an American flavour to his character's speech.


Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
April 15, 2015, 21:23
Kalleh
In the Word history it spells it the British way: "sockdologising."
April 17, 2015, 03:54
arnie
That makes sense since it was coined over here.


Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.