fag = duster???
shrdlu_junction
group about transport. I used it in the expression "the fag-end of the
year". The phpBB word censor insists on changing the word to "duster".
The board admin says that "duster" is a slang word for cigarette, but
I can't find any reference to such a meaning. Has anybody encountered
this meaning of "duster"?
I am based in Australia, but have a fairly wide knowledge of other
varieties of English, especially British.
shrdlu_junction
I recently used the expression "fag-end" in a post to a discussion
group about transport. I used it in the expression "the fag-end of the
Peter Duncanson (BrE)
<rbes...@bigpond.net.au> wrote:
>[Please ignore earlier post]
>I recently used the expression "fag-end" in a post to a discussion
>group about transport. I used it in the expression "the fag-end of the
>year". The phpBB word censor insists on changing the word "fag" to
>"duster".
>The board admin says that "duster" is a slang word for cigarette, but
>I can't find any reference to such a meaning. Has anybody encountered
>this meaning of "duster"?
>
Never.
I've eventually found a definition. It is a "specialised" type of
cigarette but it is certainly not a general slang word for cigarette:
http://www.currentdrugslang.com/
Duster - Cigarette made of tobacco, mint leaves, marijuana, or
parsley sprinkled with phencyclidine (PCP) also know as Angel Dust
>I am based in Australia, but have a fairly wide knowledge of other
>varieties of English, especially British.
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)
Jan Hyde
were released on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:56:45 -0800 (PST)
bearing the following fruit:
Never heard of it.
I have however caused some bewilderment among my American
friends when I tell them I'm just popping out for a fag.
--
Jan Hyde
shrdlu_junction
> shrdlu_junction <rbesd...@bigpond.net.au>'s wild thoughts
I have a book of British vs American English - the cover is a drawing
of a Brit talking to an American (is "Yank" considered derogatory
these days?). The Brit says "Jones was my fag at Eton". The American
replies, "Oh, I didn't realize you British could be so frank".!
John Dean
Your board censor is full of shit, trying to justify deletion of 'fag',
probably because it is a slang term for a homosexual. Challenge him/her to
produce evidence that 'duster' is a term for a cigarette. Won't be able to.
And while you're there, point out that 'fag-end' has nothing to do with
cigarettes either. 'fag' was a term for an odd bit of stuff long before
cigarettes were dreamt of, often cloth, and 'fag-end' was, wait for it, the
end of it.
OED: 1580 J. Chappell Will in Noake Worcestershire Relics (1877) 34 To his
sister-in-law he [a clothier] leaves a 'fagg' to make her a petticoat+to
Roger Massye+a white fagg to make him a coat.
Innocent examples of 'fag-end from OED:
1778 Love Feast 21 Like base Fag-Ends will surely be cut off. 1809 Tomlin
Law Dict. s.v. Fag, The fag-end+where the weaver+ works up the worst part of
his materials.
1808 Whitbread Sp. in Ho. Commons 22 Jan., Sooner than have surrendered
the fag end of a cotton rope to England.
1613 R. Tailor Hog lost Pearl in Dodsley (1780) VI. 329 There's the
fag-end of a leg of mutton. a1656 Bp. Hall Revelation Unrev. �1 The fag-end
of this last century. 1677 Plot Oxfordsh. 5 This wind was the fag-end of a
Hurricane.
--
John Dean
Oxford