Helium City or Helium Capital of the World (Amarillo nickname)
A helium-extraction plant became operational near Amarillo in April 1929; by August 1929, Amarillo was being referred to in print as "the Helium City." Amarillo was called the…
Art/Sculpture
Hell Mary (hell + Hail Mary pass; 2023 NY Jets football play)
A "Hail Mary" pass in football is a "prayer" of a long pass that is thrown, usually on a team's last down and in the final seconds of a period. The defense is expecting…
Hell Square
Hell Square is not to be confused with the long-established nickname Hell's Kitchen. The 2006-coined "Hell Square" is in the Lower East Side, from Houston Street on the north to…
Hell’s Bedroom
"Hell's Bedroom" is a 1970s variant of Hell's Kitchen. In the 1970s, Eighth Avenue in Manhattan was filled with prostitutes and called the Minnesota Strip. Gail Sheehy wrote two…
Hell’s Half Acre (Sands Street; Chatham Square)
Brooklyn's Sands Street was called "Hell's Half Acre" because of its red-light district reputation in the 19th century. I can't find historical citations for this in the…
Hell’s Hundred Acres
"Hell's Hundred Acres" was the name for the area of SoHo, just before that name was used in about 1970. "Hell's Hundred Acres" was used during World War II, describing…
Hell’s Kitchen
New York City has many hells -- "Hell Gate," for example. "Hell's Kitchen" is one of the most famous and enduring of New York City neighborhood names. "Hell's…
Hell’s Kitchener (inhabitant of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan)
"Hell's Kitchener” is the name of an inhabitant of Hell's Kitchen, in the borough of Manhattan. The name “Hell's Kitchener” has been cited in print since at least 1899.…
Hell’s Kitchenette
"Hell's Kitchenette" is a neighborhood nickname spun off from the name Hell's Kitchen. The nickname could indicate a smaller Hell's Kitchen, encroached by development. The…
Hell’s Pantry
Hell's Pantry is a neighborhood name spin-off from Hell's Kitchen. Entertainment writer Earl Wilson (see citations below, from as early as 1951) claimed that "Hell's…
Hello Dolly Squares (Hello Dolly Bars; Hello Dolly Cookies; Hello Dolly Cake; Hello Dollies)
The Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! opened on January 16, 1964, and became one of the longest-running Broadway shows ever. The musical features a restaurant scene. The origin of foods named…
Hells Fargo or Hell’s Fargo (Wells Fargo nickname)
Wells Fargo bank was founded in New York City in 1852. Wells Fargo -- one of the Big Four banks in the United States with Bank of America, Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase -- is now headquartered in…
Hellsea (Hell’s Kitchen + Chelsea)
Hellsea (or HellSea) is a Manhattan neighborhood nickname, blending Hell's Kitchen with Chelsea. "Hellsea" appears to have been coined by gay publications (2004 Go Guide and Out…
Hellyweird (hell + weird + Hollywood)
"Hellyweird" (hell +weird + Hollywood) is a portmanteau word for the city of Hollywood and its entertainment industry. The name “Hellywood” has been used by those who believe that…
Hellywood (hell + Hollywood)
"Hellywood" (hell + Hollywood) is a portmanteau word for the city of Hollywood and its entertainment industry. "Hellywood" has been printed on many images. The name…
Hen Coop (the women’s page) & the first advice column
"The Hen Coop" column began on July 20, 1898 in the New York Evening Journal. It was a women's page and the first women's "advice column," like an early "Dear…
Hen Fruit (eggs)
"Hen fruit" is a jocular way to say "eggs." "Hen fruit" has been cited in print since at least 1844; "henfruit" has been cited since 1864. "'Hen…
Herald Square and Times Square
"Herald Square" was named after the New York Herald newspaper in 1893. It is the area around West 34th Street. "Times Square" was named after the New York Times newspaper in…
Herb
"Herb" is the name of a weakling. Burger King ran a 1980s ad campaign featuring "Herb," and it's believed to have influenced use of the name. 26 December 1985, Washington…
Herf (draw on a cigar or cigarette)
"Herf" was first used by "Prince of Skeeves" on the newsgroup alt.smokers.cigars on November 21, 1996. On November 23rd, "Prince of Skeeves" explained: "To…