An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.

Cowboy Coffee

"Cowboy coffee" is primative, strong coffee. You don't dilute it with milk or sugar. See the humorous citations below. (Historical Dictionary of American Slang)cowboy coffee n. (see…

Colorado Kool-Aid (Coors beer, from Colorado)

Coors beer (from Colorado) is so weak that some have called it Kool-Aid. "Colorado Kool-Aid" is popular Texas slang for Coors beer. (Historical Dictionary of American Slang)Colorado…

Hot Guts (Elgin, TX hot sausage)

"Hot Guts" is the Elgin hot sausage. Elgin proudly declares itself the "Sausage Capital of Texas," and the Southside Market is the home of the Elgin hot sausage.…

Dr. Pepper Cake

Dr. Pepper Cake (or Dublin Dr. Pepper Cake, with the Dr. Pepper from Dublin, Texas) is another soft drink cake, similar to 7-Up Cake and Coca-Cola Cake. Dr. Pepper originated in the state and has…

Kolache (Czech pastry)

The "kolache" (there are various other spellings for it) is a Czech pastry that somehow found its way deep into the heart of Texas (with its German-Czech immigrants from as far back as…

Kangaroo Court

The kangaroo is an animal normally found in Australia, not Texas. However, it was Texas (or Mississippi) that came up with the term "kangaroo court," meaning a court where the proceedings…

Club Row (West 27th Street)

West 27th Street in Chelsea has become known as "club row" became of its many night spots. Page SixROCK AROUND THE BLOCK[ (9 clubs + 7,000 people) x 5 nights ] - 1 block = West 27th…

Texas Sweet Onion

The "Texas sweet onion" came from Bermuda in 1898 and never left. Texas also produces many other varieties of onions, but perhaps none as famous as this one.…

Texas Dirt (banana pie with crushed Oreos)

"Texas Dirt" is a name that has been attached to several culinary creations. "Texas Dirt" usually is a banana pie served in a flowerplot of crushed Oreo cookies, but "Texas…

Gone to Texas (GTT)

"Gone to Texas" was a popular expression in the mid-late 1830s. When a person who owed bills or who committed a crime was nowhere to be found, that person had "gone to Texas"…

“Don’t Mess With Texas”

"Don't Mess With Texas" is the famous 1985-86 anti-littering campaign of the Texas Department of Transportation. The slogan has been nominated for Madison Avenue's advertising…

Yoo Hoo (soft drink and slang phrase)

"Yoo Hoo" is a popular chocolate soft drink. The New York Yankees helped to advertise the drink in the 1950s, and Yankee star Yogi Berra has long promoted the product. The phrase…

Texas Trash (Chex mix dish)

Chex cereal has a dish called "Texas Trash." The dish was popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but the exact origins are uncertain. Wikipedia: Chex MixChex Mix (stylized as Chex mix) is a type…

Chuck Wagon

The "chuck wagon" has been recognized as an official state vehicle of Texas. It is often claimed that the "chuck wagon" was invented by Charles Goodnight during his cattle drive…