LINGUIST List 15.1606

Thu May 20 2004

Sum: English 'Booting'

Editor for this issue: Steve Moran <stevelinguistlist.org>

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  • Martin Paviour-Smith, Sum - 'booting'

    Message 1: Sum - 'booting'

     Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 16:17:50 -0400 (EDT)
    From: Martin Paviour-Smith <m.paviour-smithmassey.ac.nz>
    Subject: Sum - 'booting'


    Re: (Linguist 15.1586)

    Thanks to all who supplied me with the meaning of the slang term 'booting'. To date this includes the following experts:

    Rich Alderson Marc Pierce Paul Justice Sikozu Johnson Kathleen Ward Kim (from Essen University) joel walters David Kaiser Jack Hall F Baube Kelly Vincent Cynthia G. Clopper Vicki White

    It appears that 'booting' is a wide spread and well known American slang term for vomiting, particular when induced by excessive alcohol, dating back at least 30 years. Something known down here as spewing, chucking, chundering etc. In my own student days more spectacular and deliberate displays of this activity were known as 'pelicans' and 'helicopters'. I will leave it to your imagination. So now my class will have a better idea of the identity these students are constructing using this term.

    Thanks

    Martin Paviour-Smith Massey University New Zealand