Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 16:23:19 -0500

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

Subject: Re: skell yet again



At 04:06 PM 1/14/98 -0500, you (Pat Courts courts[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AIT.FREDONIA.EDU ) wrote:

["Skel(l)"] seems to have originated, and is most commonly used by the NYPD. In

Albany we usually would refer to such persons as "mutts"....



So now, what about "mutts"?





FWIW, OED2's first cite for "mutt" is 1901. OED says it's originally US

slang meaning stupid or worthless person (short for "mutton-head"). It says

the common application of "mutt" to animals is derivative (first cite, 1904).



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