Wednesday, June 24, 2015

When Cowboy Lingo Ruled the West




I love writing about the old west.  That was when men were men and women were women, but a cowboy wasn’t a cowboy unless he was wild, woolly and full of fleas.  Of course the heroes we write about are more likely to be tall, dark and handsome, which may be a bit of a tall tale or whizzer.  But as far as the lingo goes, there’s no reason to stretch the blanket —and yes-siree-bob, that’s part of the fun.
Today’s language seems rather dull compared to the colorful expressions and words of yesteryear.  Can you think of more mouth-pleasing words than hornswoggle, caboodle or skedaddle?  Or what about fiddlefooted, ranktankerous, rumbumptious  or splendiferous? A latte may be the haute cuisine of coffee, but give me an Arbuckle’s any day.

A know-it-all has a saddle to fit every horse, and if someone called you a drowned horse it meant you had a bloated ego.  And when was the last time you heard the weather man describe a dust storm as Oklahoma rain?  Cowboys didn’t just work together they were in cahoots, and if you want to ride your horse fast, you'll either  have to burn the breeze or ride a blue streak.
The rebellious part of me delights that my characters can use such words as “ain’t” and “druther” without being cut down.  My eighth grade English teacher would have had a fit.  Of course, back in the 1800s, she’d be more likely to have a conniption (any way you call it, it serves her right for branding me with an F).
Today’s nicknames seem rather tame compared to Old Fuss and Feathers, Rattlesnake Dick, Cattle Annie and Crazy Horse Lil.
When a cowboy said “hell on wheels” he wasn’t talking about no bikers (double negatives welcome).  He was talking about movable towns that followed the building of railroads.

Job hunters could take a lesson from an old buckaroo who claimed to be born in a hurricane and could handle anything that came his way.  A cowboy didn’t have work experience but he sure did have wrinkles on the horn.  He was also a firm believer that every bull should carry its own tail.  Think you’re right for the job?   I’m your huckleberry meant I’m your man.  Write that on your resume.  
Want to impress someone with your courage? Tell them you know how to die standing up.  Someone dallying too long in the chow line? Yell at them to fire and fall back.  Fallen off the straight and narrow?  What you need is a fire escape (a cowboy’s name for a preacher).   Feeling spooney?  You haven’t lived until you’ve lallygagged on a sparking bench with your beau.
Criminals were called gangs, and a bad guy was a desperado, cattle thief, gunman or roughneck. Anyone caught messing with the sheriff was escorted to the hoosegow immediately, if not sooner.  
Finally, a word of wisdom to all you greenhorns out there.  Get a wiggle on and chew the cud but stay away from conversation fluid (whiskey). 

www.margaret-brownley.com

Tell us a favorite saying, word or phrase from your childhood and you'll make us as happy as a dog with two tails.

I remember my family was always concerned about "spontaneous combustion." Anyone remember that?





How the West Was Fun

Another Pinkerton Lady Detective is on the case. This time the female operative masquerades as a mail-order bride. Pretty funny overall plot to begin with, so expect some fun reading while the detective team attempts to unmask a pair of train robbers and murderers. 

That's how Margaret Brownley writes. Western mystery with humor rolling throughout, like tumbleweeds on Main Street.
                                     -Harold Wolf on Amazon


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12 comments:

  1. I enjoyed your post, Margaret. In our house, a dimwit was described as someone who just fell off a turnip truck. :)

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  2. Hi Anita, that's a good one. Thank you for sharing!

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  3. My Mom always said, "I'm almost 100% sure." My dad called a swat with his arm a 'warm ear'; a good thing to run from! Your book sounds and looks very good. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hi Sharon, thank you for stopping by. Your mom gives herself a little out--wise woman. Love it! Never heard of a warm ear. Interesting.

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  4. Great fun here, Margaret. I've always loved the word twitterpate.

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    1. Hi Davalyn! Oh, oh,oh, I love the word twitterpate. Every time I see or hear that word I think of Bambi. Remember when he learned about twitterpating and said it wasn't going to happen to him?

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  6. Fun post! I can remember my dad saying someone was slower that a seven year itch.

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  7. Hi Vickie, you don't hear that expression much these days but it's a good one. Way back when there was even a Seven Year Itch movie.

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  8. Love the post, Miss Margaret! I love, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," or "it's tighter than Dick's hat band!" And I knew a lady that always said, "lands of Goshen" instead of good grief or my goodness.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Melanie, love the ones you shared with us. Dick's hat band is a new one for me. Never heard it before.

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  9. Here all this time I thought a dust storm was New Mexico rain. Growing up on the plains around Lovington, New Mexico we experienced ankle sand burns from the prairie winds. Shindigs weren't complete without having to hold down the grub and eatin' irons. I can remember when "fagged out" simply meant worn-out or fatigued. Dad always called any disturbance a "fuss." Thanks for the interesting post.

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