Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1893 — The Derivation of Words. [ARTICLE]

The Derivation of Words.

It is amusing, as well as instructive, to study tho derivation of words. The Two Republics, published in the City of Mexioo, contains the following: “The following explanation of the origin of the word ‘gringo’ (which it is perhaps unnecessary to also explain is Moxican for foreigner) has at least the merit of ingenuity. Sundry English vessels, it is said, did a long time ago oast anchor off Mazatlan, and Jack, as is his time-honored custom, took an early opportunity of going ashore and getting drunk. Sevoral of him were parading the streets and singing, and the song among others that particularly caught the Moxican ear was that old friend of Englishmen, commencing ‘Green grow the rushes, oh!’ After that, whenever Jack hove in sight, it was customary to remark, ‘Aquivienen los groen-grows,’and ‘green-grow’very soon got to he written and pronounced gringo, and has stuck to tho foreigner ever Binoe. ’’ The Mexicans to this day call a large American horse a caballo golon, because during the Moxican war they heard the American teamsters, as they touched up their teams say “go ’long. Owing to the habitual use of profanity on the part of Texas cowboys, the Mexicans call an American oowboy un goddammy. It is amusing to note that in one of nor officials tho famous Maid of Orleans applies the same term to the English soldiers of her day. In a letter to the King of France she predicts suooess no many goddammios aro brought against her.