Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 10:58:19 EDT

From: David Bergdahl bergdahl[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]OUVAXA.CATS.OHIOU.EDU

Subject: [p*tut]



Ohio University Electronic Communication





Date: 19-Apr-1995 10:52am EST



To: Remote Addressee ( _MX%"ADS-L[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UGA.CC.UGA.EDU )



From: David Bergdahl Dept: English

BERGDAHL Tel No: (614) 593-2783



Subject: [p*tut]





Here's a local term that I've heard for years but don't know its origin:

[p*tut] with * for schwa. It's always transparent in meaning--"I don't give a

horse's patoot for that." "He's a real horse's patoot." "He got kicked in the

patoot." &c. There's a long tradition of Ohio Valley French (with cities like

Marietta--named after Marie Antoinette--and Gallipolis (pronounced [gael*polis]

with accent on the last syllable)) and also a goodly number of Italians. Any

ideas for the origin of [p*tut]?

David

David Bergdahl Ohio Univ/Athens BERGDAHL[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]OUVAXA.CATS.OHIOU.EDU

"between Appalachia and the midwest"







Received: 19-Apr-1995 10:58am