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…
Florida (Sunshine State Dictionary)
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…
Herkie Jump (or Herky Jump, after Lawrence Herkimer; incorrectly as Hurkie Jump or Hurky Jump)
The "Herkie jump" (also sometimes spelled "Herky jump," and incorrectly as "Hurkie jump" or "Hurky jump") was invented and named after Lawrence Herkimer of…
Hero Ball (basketball style)
"Hero ball" occurs in basketball when one player decides to be the "hero" and take the crucial shot(s). "Hero ball" can work when that player is a superstar, but team…
Hero Sandwich
Hoagie, Sub, Grinder -- there are many regional sandwich names. New Yorkers have a "hero." The Italian sandwich -- before it was called a "hero" -- was popularized in the 1890s…
Heroin Highway (Eighth Avenue; Long Island Expressway)
A "heroin highway" is any street where heroin is either transported or sold. Hastings Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, was called a "heroin highway" in 1955. The U.S.…
Heroin Island (heroin + Staten Island)
The heroin epidemic on Staten Island made news in 2014 and 2015, creating the nicknames "Heroin's New Hometown" and "Heroin Island." "Heroin’s New Hometown: On…
Herroner (her honor)
"Herroner" ("her honor") is the feminine equivalent of "hizzoner" ("his honor"). While "hizzoner" dates back to 1880s Chicago, "herroner"…
Hi Sign (Hidy Sign; One-Finger Wave; Medina Wave; Texas Finger Wave)
The "hi sign" (also called the "hidy sign" or "one-finger wave" or "Medina wave" or "Texas finger wave") is when one driver lifts the index finger…
Hick Hop
"Hick hop" is a combination of country music and hip-hop. It also goes by the names for country-hip hop, country-rap, hill hop, and hip hopry. Cowboy Troy (of Victoria and Dallas, Texas)…
Hide-and-Speak (electronic constituent communications)
"Hide-and-speak" (a pun on "hide-and-seek") is when a government official speaks to his or her constituents without a live and personal confrontation, such as what happens at a…
High Finance
"High finance" means financial transactions that involve large sums of money. The term "high finance" has been cited in print since at least 1858, but began to be used with…
High Five Friday
"High Five Friday" (or "High-five Friday") is a day to celebrate the week's accomplishments, such as by giving a person a "high five" hand gesture. "High…
High Tech Happy Hour (Low Tech Happy Hour)
The "happy hour" was a navy term describing the period for entertainment and refreshments, used during World War I (1918). "Happy hour" became a time period for when bars and…
High-rise
A "high-rise" is a tall building. "High-rise developments" (apartment buildings in public housing) was cited in December 1951 in a Chicago publication.…
High-Speed Swim Lane (HSSL or “hustle”)
Countrywide Financial was once a large mortgage lender; Countrywide failed during the financial crisis of 2008, when it was sold to Bank of America. The U.S. Department of Justice sued Bank of…
Highest Town in Texas—Where the Stars Come Out to Play (Fort Davis slogan)
"Where the stars come out ot play" is the slogan of Fort Davis, near Mount Locke and the McDonald Observatory. Fort Davis is also called "The Highest Town in Texas" because the…
Highlanders (American League baseball team, later called Yankees)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Other early nicknames of the New York Yankees include "Hilltoppers," "Invaders" and "Porchclimbers." Joseph W. Gordon, president of the club…