Sorority
The word "sorority" (from the latin soror, or "sister") has had a long use meaning a sisterhood or a club of women. Sororities at American colleges began in 1851; several…
1960s: Fun City
Sorority Sauce (ranch dressing)
"Sorority sauce" has been a slang nickname for "ketchup" since at least World War II. Since about 2006, ranch dressing has been called "sorority sauce" at Texas Tech…
Sorrento Cheese Festival
New York has an annual Italian Cheesse Festival on Mulberry Street. http://www.gothamgazette.com/events/June 17, 2006Sorrento Cheese FestivalThe annual cheese festival in Little Italy features…
SOS (sauce on the side)
"SOS" is a famous distress signal. In restaurant lingo, "SOS" means "sauce on the side" -- that is, sauce on the side of the plate and not directly on top of the food.…
SoSo (South of Southtown, San Antonio)
"SoSo" is the "south of Southtown" neighborhood of San Antonio. The neighborhood nickname -- like so many others -- is inspired by New York City's 1960s-era neighborhood…
Soubrette Row (West 39th Street)
A "soubrette" is what a female stock character in opera and theatre was called in the late 1800s and early 1899s. New York City had a "Soubrette Row," where women employed in…
Soul Food
The term "soul food" is used in Harlem, but it is not clear where the term originated. "Soul food" is cited in print from at least 1960. Wikipedia: Soul foodSoul food is an…
Soup Jockey (waiter or waitress)
A "soup jockey" is restaurant slang for a waiter or waitress. "Soup jockey" appears to have first been used in railroad dining cars to refer to a cook -- not a waiter or…
Soup of the Devil (Devil’s Soup) (=chili)
Chili has been called the "soup of the devil" or "devil's soup." Yes, it can be hot. The term "soup of the devil" supposedly dates to the 19th century, but the…
Soup of the Night (soupe de la nuit; soupe du soir; soup du soir)
There is a "soup of the day" (soup du jour) served in many restaurants, but not "soup of the night" (soupe de la nuit; soupe du soir; soup du soir). "Soup of the…
Soup Sandwich
The term "as sloppy as a soup sandwich" was printed in the Daily News (New York, NY) on January 28, 1977. "Sloppy as a soup sandwich" was entered in the "Canonical List of…
Soup-and-Fish (a dinner suit)
"Soup and fish" was a traditional first course in the formal dinners of the 19th century. "Soup and fish" (also "soup-and-fish") also became a nickname for a…
Soupervisor (soup + supervisor)
"Soupervisor" (soup + supervisor) is a portmanteau that has been used since at least the 1960s. The poem 'THE SOUPervisor" was printed in the Fort Lauderdale (FL) News on July…
South Brooklyn’s Secret Suburb (Ditmas Park, Brooklyn)
Ditmas Park, in Brooklyn, has a historic district and a suburban feel. Some have called it "Brooklyn's Secret Suburb" or "South Brooklyn's Secret Suburb." "South…
South By or Southby (South by Southwest or SXSW)
Austin's "South by Southwest" festival (since 1987) is often referred to by its initials (SXSW). In the 2000s, the festival grew very large, expanding beyond indie bands to include…
South Carolina: “South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: James L. PetigruJames Louis Petigru (May 10, 1789 – March 9, 1863) was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist in South Carolina. He is best known for his…
South Carolina: Palmetto State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P.Sabal palmetto Wikipedia: Seal of South CarolinaThe Great Seal of the State of South Carolina was adopted in 1776. The seal is made up of two elliptical areas, linked by…
South Carolina: Weasel (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: List of mammals of SOuth CarolinaMustelidae . Least weasel (Mustela nivalis). Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata). Mink (Mustela vison). North American river…
South Dakota: Blizzard State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google Books28 April 1888, The Railway News, pg. 693:This blizzard was supposed to come from what is called now the Blizzard State — Dakota. Google BooksOctober 1889,…
South Dakota: Coyote State (nickname)
Coyotes are so common in South Dakota that the University of South Dakota athletic teams are the "Coyotes." The coyote was made the official state animal in 1949. South Dakota became a…