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General Discussion / Re: Old New York Gangsters knew about raw meat
« on: March 10, 2013, 12:25:15 pm »
the most pragmatic way to determine the correct reading of a sentence is to look at the sources.
http://www.earlyamericancrime.com/dictionary/black-ointment lists four sources, interestingly none of them contain the quote "It soothes dog and men." In fact, here is what each says:
A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon, and Cant.
http://archive.org/stream/adictionaryslan00lelagoog#page/n160/mode/1up
"(thieves), pieces of raw meat."
A Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English.
http://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofslan00farmrich#page/49/mode/1up
"Uncooked meat."
Vocabulum: Or, the Rogue’s Lexicon.
http://archive.org/stream/cu31924073798740#page/n20/mode/1up
"Raw meat."
A Dictionary of the Underworld
http://books.google.com/books?id=VPBMA1ciCNgC&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88#v=onepage&q&f=false
" 'Pieces of raw meat' (B. & L.); c.: from ca. 1870. Perhaps ex idea of meat poultice for a black eye. (Alexander McQueen.) "
Unless you find the source that backs up "It soothes dog and men.", then it appears this argument has no basis. From the sources the site actually lists, the black eye poultice interpretation seems best supported.
http://www.earlyamericancrime.com/dictionary/black-ointment lists four sources, interestingly none of them contain the quote "It soothes dog and men." In fact, here is what each says:
A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon, and Cant.
http://archive.org/stream/adictionaryslan00lelagoog#page/n160/mode/1up
"(thieves), pieces of raw meat."
A Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English.
http://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofslan00farmrich#page/49/mode/1up
"Uncooked meat."
Vocabulum: Or, the Rogue’s Lexicon.
http://archive.org/stream/cu31924073798740#page/n20/mode/1up
"Raw meat."
A Dictionary of the Underworld
http://books.google.com/books?id=VPBMA1ciCNgC&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88#v=onepage&q&f=false
" 'Pieces of raw meat' (B. & L.); c.: from ca. 1870. Perhaps ex idea of meat poultice for a black eye. (Alexander McQueen.) "
Unless you find the source that backs up "It soothes dog and men.", then it appears this argument has no basis. From the sources the site actually lists, the black eye poultice interpretation seems best supported.