Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 22:23:14 -0500

From: Gregory {Greg} Downing downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]IS2.NYU.EDU

Subject: Re: help with a word history



At 09:44 PM 12/5/97, you (Peggy Smith dj611[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]cleveland.Freenet.Edu ) wrote:

Is there anyone who can provide me with a brief history of the phrase

"welsh (or welch) on a bet"? Does it have an ethnic origin and if so,

what exactly is the stereotype I have been inadvertently perpetrating

in using the expression?



Thanks for your help.



Peggy Smith





OED2 lists welsh v. (variant spelling, welch) as "of obscure origin."



Webster's New Universal Unabridged speculates "special use of Welsh?"



No time to get up and look at more dictionaries right now. Do others have

other sources to hand?



Greg Downing/NYU, at greg.downing[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nyu.edu or downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]is2.nyu.edu