Origins

What's in a Name?

by John Collins

Names once held great power. They were the verbal embodiment of a person, rather than a mere label. In days of old, people had a "common name" and a "secret name". The latter actually identified you, and if someone knew your secret name, they would have significant power over you (particularly if that someone was a sorcerer, and was irked at you for some reason). Your name was also significant of your talents or skill: John the Smith, Barney the Miller, Bob the Barker.

These days the reverse is true: in some cases, a name will take on a meaning as a result of its owner's actions or habit. For instance, after the film "Easy Rider", we all had a name for that inconsiderate dude who would "bogart" a joint, holding on to it for too long without passing it around, much like Humphrey would leave cigarettes hanging from his lips without smoking them for hours. And we have two names for traitors: a "quisling", after Vidkun Quisling of Norway, who sold out his country to Hitler in 1940, and a "Benedict Arnold", after that famous American Revolutionary.

While they haven't quite made it into common usage, I'd like to suggest a couple more for inclusion into our colourful lexicon. If a person drastically alters his or her appearance, we could say they have "jacksoned" (or, I suppose, if they have an inordinate fondness for chimps). If someone gets off scot-free in the face of seemingly insurmountable evidence, we could say they "O.J.'d" (also known as 'gloving', as in "He really gloved that robbery, didn't he?" "Bloody right!").

Incidentally, have you ever wondered where the term "getting off scot-free" originated? Well, even if you didn't, I'm going to tell you. That's my job. Contrary to what you may think, the term has nothing to do with the stereotypical frugal Scotsman. Actually, a "scot" or "sceot" was a municipal tax in 12th century England, and someone who went "scot-free" was one who succeeded in dodging that tax. Scot also came to mean the amount owed for entertainment in a tavern, including drinks. If you got a free drink, you drank "scot-free".

What about the origins of common name-related sayings like "Bob's your uncle" (and "Fanny's your aunt"), and "peter out", you ask? "Bob" refers to A.J. Balfour's uncle Robert who, coincidentally enough, was also known as Lord Salisbury (of steak fame), and Mr. Prime Minister. It seems that in the late 1800s he got his favourite nephew A.J. a sweet little job as Chief Secretary for Ireland. This was after he got A.J. a job as Secretary for Scotland. Which was shortly after A.J. served, at his uncle's behest, as President of the Local Government Board. So, if you've got it made, then "Bob's your uncle"! (As for "Aunt Fanny", this is a family column, so we can't get into the origin of that one.)

Before these name origins peter out, we'll do one more. To "peter out"—to taper off or come to an end—has a couple of possible origins. Religion, that bottomless fount of fun terms, offers that "peter" refers to the apostle Peter, who first rushed to Christ's defence in the Garden of Gethsemane, but later disclaimed any knowledge of the fellow when the chips were down. His support "petered out". Another explanation comes from American miners during the 1849 gold rush. The gunpowder mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, commonly called "peter" by miners, was used as an explosive in mining, and when no amount of exploding turned up any more gold, the mine was "petered out".

Well, that's it for names, and this issue's Origins. Until next time, say what you think, but think about what you're saying.