An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 38,000 entries.

Salugi (or Saloogie)

"Salugi" (or "saluggi" or "saloogie") was a New York children's game of "keep away" that was popular in the 1950s. The origin of the name is unknown.…

Carpet Gun

The "carpet gun" was a homemade toy gun, popular with children in East New York (Brooklyn) in the 1940s and 1950s. tp://www.lampos.com/brooklyn.htmCarpet Gun: A homemade toy gun. Again,…

Finger Building

The "Finger Building" is the large condo building at North 7th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Why "Finger Building"? Because the building looks like a finger? Because the…

Welfare Queen

A "welfare queen" is a woman who is on public assistance, often fraudulently. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani cut the welfare rolls in the 1990s, dramatically decreasing the "welfare…