Twelve English etymologies from the social margins (Part 1)

Abstract

Etymologies are proposed for twelve previously unexplained English words from working-class or underclass English vocabulary. Treated in Part 1 of this study are cod as ‘dupe’ and codswallop, mollycoddle / mollycot, natty, and yokel. Common features are isolation, extended use, pejoration, and treatment by lexicographers with varying degrees of proscriptiveness and by word buffs with enthusiastic amateur etymologizing.