LANG BAFFLES JUDGE

Chronicle (Levin), 18 October 1946, Page 7

LANG BAFFLES JUDGE

i ^ (Special Correspondent.)

■ " LONDON, Oct. 16. "Wliat is 'ooniph'?" Mr. Jusfice Evershed asked for a definition in tlie Cliancery Division when an American footwear company appealed against tlie refusal of the Registrar of Trade Marks to register the word "oomphies" as a trade mark. The answer was forthcomiug to enlighten the Court from a finn of trade mark ageuts in New York. "Oompli," it stated in a letter, is a war word 111 the domain of American ' ' slanguagc. 7 7 Thc concensus of opinion, it coutluueu, is tliat the word "oompli" was origmally coined in Holiywood as particulany descriptive of Ann Shcridan. "Ooniph" is to Ann Sheridan wh'at "it" was to Clara Bow. The letter also quoted a bciok of slang and said that an "ooniph" giri was a pass.ionate young woman and a "hot mama" an actress with sex appeal. The girl may have beautyof Oot'li mind and body, and still be markedly lacking iu "oompli." Music may oe said to have "oompli" iu tliat it animated iu a spine-tingling way. "'l'he t'oregoiug may be said to be a solid brother to eight beats to tlie bar" . added the letter. "It eooks with gas and should really send you. (If this is abstruse, round up oue of our youiiger G.I.73.) " Both the Judge and counsel confessed themselves baffled in the attempt to translate the latter definitioE. i