Entry from July 25, 2004
Johnny Pump
A "Johnny Pump" is a fire hydrant. It's a name that I don't hear much anymore.
I found it first in the following novel, which is full of "classic" New York speech.
Call It Sleep
by Henry Roth
New York: The Noonday Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
1991, eleventh printing 1996
(Originally published in 1934)
Pg. 87:
They marched cross the street in single file and stopped before a tall hydrant.
"Jump on Johnny Pump!" commanded Sidney leaping up on the two stumpy arms of the fire-plug.
I found it first in the following novel, which is full of "classic" New York speech.
Call It Sleep
by Henry Roth
New York: The Noonday Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
1991, eleventh printing 1996
(Originally published in 1934)
Pg. 87:
They marched cross the street in single file and stopped before a tall hydrant.
"Jump on Johnny Pump!" commanded Sidney leaping up on the two stumpy arms of the fire-plug.