Date:  Tue, 28 Oct 1997 10:01:57 -0500
From:  Jesse T Sheidlower <jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM>
Subject: Re: Rat's -ss

> >> Class discussion has lead to a question about a specific term used quite
> >> often in the English language (at least, the English language to which I
> >> am accustomed to listening).....the term "rat's ass" (i.e. I don't give a
> >> rat's ass what he says!) What does it really mean? And where does it
> >> originate? Also, are there any other terms that are similar in makeup
> >> and usage?

We've collected a number of examples of _rat's ass_ meaning broadly
'a damn; (used broadly as a symbol of worthlessness)', usually in
negative phrases of the sort _don't give a rat's ass._ Our earliest
example is 1952, although we have a number of examples from the 1950s
in military use all referring to World War II; it's not unlikely that
when we get around to the R's we'll find something earlier.

We have consistent examples since the 1950s, but I've observed a
large increase in the currency of the phrase in the 1990s; I've
found examples even in mainstream sources such as the Washington
Post or the L.A. Times (here euphemized to "rat's _toches._"

Jesse Sheidlower
Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang
<jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com>