Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 00:42:26 -0600

From: "Donald M. Lance" engdl[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SHOWME.MISSOURI.EDU

Subject: Re: hoopty



'Hoopty' would very likely be a variant of 'hoopy', which was a common term

for an old rattly car in the 1930s when I was a kid. 'Hoopy' is in DARE,

with citations from several states. I'm sure I heard it in movies in the

50s or so too. The sound of the word always reminded me of the sound of a

Model T or Model A Ford. A hoopty would be a Model A with hiccoughs.



This item was discussed earlier on ads-l. Some mentioned 'hoopdy'. Maybe

'hoopty' has been around a long time too. I think Michael Miller surveyed

this term in Chicago, but I don't see the item in his questionnaire in his

article in the Glowka & Lance volume: "How to Study Black Speech in

Chicago."