Search Details

Word: jalap (lookup in dictionary) (lookup stats)
Dates: during 1937-1937
Sort By: most recent first (reverse)


Usage:

...REAL ARGUMENT LIES IN WHETHER IT IS AN EUPHEMISTIC CONTRACTION OF "DILAPIDATED" OR SPRINGS DIRECTLY FROM "GALLOP," MEANING TO MOVE BY SPRINGING LEAPS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AZTEC PURGATIVE ROOTS AND SUGGEST PUNISHING ED FOR SUCH TRIPE BY MAKING HIM EAT HIS WORDS SEASONED WITH SOME JALAP AND A WELL TURNED JALOPY...

Author: /time Magazine | Title: Letters, Jun. 21, 1937 | 6/21/1937 | See Source »

...Jalopy," "jaloppi" -or "jollopy" (Weseen's Dictionary of American Slang}-has for years been the name used by U. S. second-hand car dealers and taxi drivers for an exhausted automobile. Possible derivation: jalap, a purgative root...

Author: /time Magazine | Title: Letters, Jun. 7, 1937 | 6/7/1937 | See Source »

| 1 |