AT THE AIRPORT

BUNGHOLE OF THE WEEK: TOP BRASS

Many reporters just love this expression; they use it all the time. Any time the top people of an organisation are present during a press conference, the reporter says/writes that it was attended by the `top brass'. The expression is considered to be informal, and is mostly used in British English.

*The minister has said that there will be a reshuffle of the army's top brass.

The expression `top brass' was first used in the Army. `Brass' referred to the gold braid found on the hats of military officers — it indicated the individual's rank. The word `brass' is actually a shortened form of `brass hat', and this was the term used by enlisted men in the late 19th century to refer to their commanding officers. It was during World War II that `brass hat' became `top brass'. As time went by, the expression began to be used in non-military contexts; important individuals of an organisation began to be called `top brass'. The term `the brass' can also be used to refer to such people.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/edu/2006/07/10/stories/2006071000851500.htm

HOUSEHOLD CLEANING AND LAUNDRY

WORDS + PREPOSITIONS

HIDDEN WOODS, a poem by Hollie McNish

AT THE SUPERMARKET

JONATHAN LIVINGSTONE SEAGULL, by Richard Bach

READ THE BOOK HERE

PERFECT DAY, by Lou Reed

CONNECTORS

BUNGHOLE OF THE WEEK: KANGAROO COURT

Strangely, the term kangaroo court is not Australian in origin. The term refers to an improperly constituted and illegitimate court, especially one constituted by people who are otherwise outside the law, prisoners, mutineers, etc. What kangaroos have to do with it is not known for certain. There are plenty of guesses, but no strong evidence. 

What we do know is that the phrase arose on the American frontier, attested to as early as 1841 in reference to Natchez, Mississippi. Various suggestions have been proffered, none with any solid evidence behind them. The best is Barry Popik’s suggestion that the term may come from the Kangaroo district of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a rather notorious section of town known for its gambling dens and brothels that flourished in the 1820s and early 1830s. The name Kangaroo comes from the name of brothel in that district. Popik’s explanation fits the time and place, but to date no specific links between kangaroo court and this district have been found. Until someone finds a connection between the Vicksburg district and some account of mock or impromptu justice, Popik’s explanation must remain tentative.

Other suggestions include that such courts defy the law, just as strange creatures, like the kangaroo, seem to defy the laws of nature, or that the name comes from speed by which one jumps from the courtroom into prison. A third hypothesis that is frequently proffered is that it comes from informal prosecutions of claim jumpers during the California gold rush. The lexical evidence indicates that the phrase did not originate in Australia, so any actual connection with the land down under is incorrect.

Such courts were also known as mustang or mestang courts, in reference to a wild and uncontrollable horse. Not as exotic as a kangaroo, but a wild animal nonetheless.

The first known use of kangaroo court is from the 24 August 1841 New Orleans Daily Picayune (2):

The Concordia Intelligencer says “several loafers were lynched in Natchez last week upon various charges instituted by the Kangaroo court. The times grow warm; we can see another storm coming, not unlike that which prevailed in the days of the Murrel excitement. In Natchez, as in New Orleans, they are driving away all of the free negroes.” What is a Kangaroo court, neighbor?

Source: http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/site/comments/kangaroo_court/