American Civil War - 03/27/00 07:25 AM
Can anybody help with words or phrases originating from or given particular meanings during the American Civil War?
A few examples I know of are 'hookers' (from 'Hooker's girls', the women who visited F J Hookers's quarters in Washington), burnsides/sideburns (A E Burnsides whiskers), 'Tell it to the marines' and 'War is hell' (both Sherman).
Is 'skedaddle' a civil war word? It seems to have popped up about then and was certainly used a lot during the war.
There must be lots more... 'Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!'
A few examples I know of are 'hookers' (from 'Hooker's girls', the women who visited F J Hookers's quarters in Washington), burnsides/sideburns (A E Burnsides whiskers), 'Tell it to the marines' and 'War is hell' (both Sherman).
Is 'skedaddle' a civil war word? It seems to have popped up about then and was certainly used a lot during the war.
There must be lots more... 'Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!'