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Then, the standard slang definition of heater is 'gun'. I think we have to take the use of these words in this song with a grain of salt. I think they were chosen more for poetic reasons, for their assonance with "Jeepers, creepers."

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So right you really are, Faldage.

Unless we are to dump the semantic rule of precedent we must accept the slang meaning of "heaters" as "guns" as well as "cheaters" for "eyeglasses".

I am surprised that Tromboniater and zmjezhd argue logic when we are talking language.
Of course, that is, unless we are talking nuance which is alltogether a different matter.

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Well, in modern day slang guns can refer to biceps, who knows what guns might have referred to in the '30s.

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Originally Posted By: jenny jenny

we must accept the slang meaning of "heaters" as "guns" as well as "cheaters" for "eyeglasses".

Yes, because any one word can have one and only one definition, slang or otherwise, nor may anyone alter or reinvent definitions for (shudder) poetic purposes.
Originally Posted By: jenny jenny

I am surprised that Tromboniater and zmjezhd argue logic when we are talking language.

But then, we use language to argue logic, so logically all discussion is pointless. Nuance, shcmuance; think I'll have some ice cream.

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as long as we're trying (very trying) to get all logical about this, "cheaters" would seem to be sunglasses for some instances; you can see other people's eyes, but they can't see yours - that's cheating.

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What are "heaters"?

RESOLVED : A UNION OF LOGIC AND PRECEDENCE

Special thanks to the tsuwms, the Faldeges, and the zmjezhds of this World, as well as the Tromboniaters, the LukeJavans and all other romantics of their World, for their small contributions in constructing this resolve.

I Mercer/ Miller wrote the lyrics for JEEPER CREEPERS expressly to effect a humorous interplay of meanings as Louis Armstrong sings a lovesong to a racehorse.

II The term "heat" in horseracing originated in the thermal heating of the horses especially in preliminary races.

III "When you turn those heaters on, woe is me. I got to get my cheaters on."
It follows that "turning heaters on" refers to the sudden burst of speed that a racehorse makes as it rounds the backstreach and "cheaters" refers to binoculars or field glasses.

Does anyone else have something further to add? smile

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oh, that's wonderful.. except for the rest of the song he's singing to the horse about her eyes!

edit: btw, here he is

Last edited by tsuwm; 04/21/13 07:06 PM. Reason: link
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Yes I know, master tsuwm. I think that is what I said. smile

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Originally Posted By: Faldage

Sounds good to me.


I agree. Seems simple enough.
He aint putting them on to see better, he's putting them on to stop the brilliant glare.

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Originally Posted By: jenny jenny
Yes I know, master tsuwm. I think that is what I said. smile


mebbe so; but it's not all that you said.

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