THE BAN ON “LEG"

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 340, 22 January 1937, Page 8

THE BAN ON “LEG"

“Leg” was a horrible word back ■ in Mrs. Grundy’s era, according to ' the lexicographer, Mr. M. M.. Math ewe, says the New York Times. But the reluctance of refined women of the nineteenth century to use it resulted in some noteworthy contributions to the American lan- • guage. “Bosom,” “breast,” and “leg” . were taboo in polite circles a hun- j dred years ago, said Dr. Mathews, assistant-editor of the Dictionary «f American English, now being published by the University of Chicago Press. He added: “ ‘Leg’ was not to be uttered in mixed company even though it might refer to the leg of a horse, of a table, or of a piano. The ladies per- | formed all sorts of linguistic aero- ■ batics to avoid it. At a table they would ask for the ‘first and second j joint of the fowl’ instead of asking outright for a chicken leg. “From this excessive timidity arose the expressions ‘dark meat/ meaning the legs of chickens, and ‘white meat,’ meaning meat from the I breast of the fowl. “One young lady spoke of her ; ‘wires’ when she referred to ier • legs. In 1849 Longfellow apparently | referred facetiously to this dread of the word leg when he wrote: ‘Young misses at boarding school are not allowed to cross their benders.’ “ Dr. Mathews suspected that Ameri- I can women originated the expression ‘.‘balloon sleeves” to avoid the I British term ‘‘log of mutton sleeves.” He related hifi findings in an ad- | dress before the Southern Women’s Educational Alliance.