Date:    Thu, 26 Mar 1998 13:16:53 -0500
<br>From:    Gregory {Greg} Downing  downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]IS2.NYU.EDU 
<br>Subject: Re: "beard"
<br>
<br>At 01:07 PM 3/26/98 -0500, Mark Mandel wrote:
<br> A usage new to me appears in today's _Wall Street Journal_, p.1, column 4.
<br> 
<br> "For many of these post-college spring revelers, golf is the beard -- that is,
<br> ostensibly the main attraction, and a convenient excuse to spouses and
<br> significant others left at home.
<br> 
<br>
<br>I've heard "beard" since the early 80's in the sense of a gay male's female
<br>escort or wife. I.e., beard = something used as a disguise or "cover." For
<br>example, I recalling hearing it used disparagingly of Elton John's wife when
<br>he got married, briefly, in about 1986 if I recall.
<br>
<br>Gregory {Greg} Downing, at greg.downing[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nyu.edu or downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]is2.nyu.edu
<br>