Date:  Fri, 15 Sep 1995 21:34:52 EDT

From:  Larry Horn <LHORN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]YALEVM.CIS.YALE.EDU>

Subject: Re: bullets



Well, it was a nice suggestion. What's funny is that the lexicons seem to

list the derived meanings (I take it that this 'bullet' is a secondary forma-

tion from the PP 'with a bullet', as is the verb listed elsewhere) but for the

most part not the expression they derive from. Maybe Billboard magazine has

that one copyrighted :)

----------------------------Original message----------------------------

Sorry, J. E. Lighter's _Random House Historical Dictionary of American

Slang_ (vol. 1, A-G) is not any help. Meaning 12. Says (in its entirety)

"_Music Industry_. A recording that rapidly becomes a hit. 1974

_Night-Stalker_ (ABC-TV): A _bullet_ is a tune that goes right to the top,

that's gonna be a hit. 1979 Homer _Jargon_ 119: _Bullet_. A record

believed to be a potential success."



I guess for "with a bullet" we'll have to wait until they get to the volume

that has W in it.