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