History Challenge & Journal

[dtaai-maai]

Yes, I was reading about that this morning. Fascinating, isn't it? Bring back Time Team!!!

[pharvey]

What did a "Knocker-up" (below) do and when did the practice finally end?
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Knocker.jpg (61.72 KiB) Viewed 332 times

[Dannie Boy]

Well the phrase to knock somebody up, would be to knock on their door, but this woman seems to be holding something like a whistle, so maybe a wake up call for the local factory? Judging by the photo I’d say it was mid-late 19th century so maybe 1880?


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[pharvey]

Well the phrase to knock somebody up, would be to knock on their door, but this woman seems to be holding something like a whistle, so maybe a wake up call for the local factory? Judging by the photo I’d say it was mid-late 19th century so maybe 1880?

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Yes, the phrase was a little obvious - as in a knock at the door/window. Indeed employed to wake workers on industrial sites. The lady in the picture was not using a whistle, but in fact a small bamboo tube to fire dried peas (pea-shooter) at upstairs windows.

Certainly used in the mid-late 19th century, BUT the practice did not end until quite a bit later(?)........

[dtaai-maai]

They didn't all use the pea-shooter technique. Most used a long pole, and I once viewed a coastguard cottage on the Dover cliff path that still had some kind of knocker-up fittings attached to the bedroom windows.

[pharvey]

Where did the term "Hooker" (referring to prostitutes) come from?

[dtaai-maai]

Oooh, I love these questions!

The first thing that springs to mind is a fish hook.

[pharvey]

Oooh, I love these questions!

The first thing that springs to mind is a fish hook.

A definite no.....

American rather than anything else....

[dtaai-maai]

Nah, can't make an intelligent guess, unless it's based on the name of an American girl, Dolly Hooker, I once knew who used to put it about a bit...

[Jimbob]

so how long has the expression been around. I always thought it was limited to rugby
During a 1974 tour to Australia, Sinatra said the wrong thing to the wrong people at the wrong time.
"The broads who work in the press are the hookers of the press. I might give them a buck-and-half, I'm not sure," Sinatra told a crowd at Melbourne's Festival Hall. He then got banned from flying home for a while

[pharvey]

so how long has the expression been around.

From this gentleman's time: -

Challenge.jpg (120.92 KiB) Viewed 273 times

[PeteC]

He was a US Civil War General I think...but that's all I know unless I look it up. I would imagine he enjoyed his pass to town in the evening.

[dtaai-maai]

There are many sayings whose origins you might be able to work out even if you don't actually know them.
Try these:

Swing the lead
Toe the line

[pharvey]

He was a US Civil War General I think...

Indeed he was

"The use of the word “hooker” as a term for a prostitute originated with Civil War General Joseph Hooker, who brought prostitutes along on campaigns for his men."

[pharvey]

There are many sayings whose origins you might be able to work out even if you don't actually know them.
Try these:

Swing the lead
Toe the line

Toe the Line fairly common, but must admit - had to look-up "Swing the Lead", can't remember hearing that one before.