Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
T Boone Pickens is one of the richest people in America. In the 1980s, he headed Mesa Patroleum and successfully bid for Gulf Oil. He had no sympathy for the entrenched Big Oil managers. In 1985,…
"Friday Night Lights" is the title of a 1990 book by H. G. Bissinger about the 1988 football season of the Permian High School Panthers, of Odessa, Texas. The book was made into a 2004…
Sam Rayburn (1882-1961) was a Texas Congressman who was a longtime and effective Speaker of the House. "To get along, go along" (also sometimes phrased "go along to get along")…
Sam Rayburn (1882-1961) was a distinguishment Speaker of the House as a Texas Congressman. When the Democrats lost power, he wondered about the Republicans and how they'd treat the programs…
A. J. Foyt is a racing driver from Houston. He once said that he felt safer driving on the racetrack than driving on Houston expressways. The Foyt quote is on many internet sites, but usually…
"That'll Be the Day" was a 1957 hit song for Buddy Holly (1937-1959) of Lubbock, Texas. The inspiration for the song was the line "That'll be the day!" spoken several…
"God first, family second, career third" was a belief of Mary Kay Ash (1915-2001), the Dallas-based founder of the Mary Kay cosmetics company. Her third priority (career) certainly did…
A "tenderfoot" (or "tender foot") is a "greenhorn" or a "pilgrim" -- someone new to the West, often fresh from the East. The name comes from someone new to…
The "gunslinger" (or "gun slinger") is the legendary figure of the film western. The "gunslinger" term was not used in the 1800s, however; "gunman" (or…
"The Peacemaker" was the name of an 1873 Colt revolver. It quickly became the most popular pistol in the west. Although "Peacemaker" is a curious name, "Peacemaker"…
The bola tie (or bolo tie; "bola" meaning ball) was declared the official neckwear of Arizona in 1971. In 2007, the Texas legislature had a proposal to make it the official necktie of…
A "cow puncher" (or "cowpuncher") is sometimes called a "cowpoke" or the usual "cowboy." The term "cow punch" was quite literal -- the cowboys…
Liz Smith (1923-2017) a nationally syndicated gossip columnist. She's based in New York City, but she was born in Fort Worth, Texas and educated at the University of Texas (Austin). Every once…
"Rodeo" is Spanish for "round up." Pecos claims that it held the first "rodeo" (a spectator event as we know it today) on July 4, 1883. The claim is debated by other…
"Cowboy Up" became familiar to many in the East when Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar (who played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas) used it as the rallying…
"Snake poison" was an 1800s nickname for whiskey. It's easy to see why. There was a rumor that the only antidote for a snake bite was whiskey, so all the cowboys stocked up. Texas…
"Partner" (as in "Howdy, Pardner!") is often written as spoken, as "pardner" or "podner" or "pard." These spellings are found in print from at…
The "cowboy" is famous, but there is also the "cowgirl" (or "cow girl"). The name "cowgirl" appears in print in the 1880s. Fort Worth has a National Cowgirl…
The "Judas steer" was the one who helped the cowboys lead the other animals to their destruction in the stockyards. The terms dates from the 1800s cattle drives. Western Slang, Lingo…
Arbuckle's was a popular brand of coffee that was made in Pittsburgh (PA) after the Civil War. The coffee quickly became a favorite with cowboy cooks and so dominated the market that…