Americanism

in the history of the English language and literature, a word, phrase, or idiom peculiar to the United States. Some expressions known by the term have originated in America. Hominy, wigwam, squaw, moose, pemmican, and teepee are words of this sort. They are chiefly of Indian origin. Some expressions that are colloquial in England have been raised to the rank of national usage in this country. Other words and expressions known only in some parts of Great Britain, belonging to the dialect of a district, have been imported to this country and have come into general use. Many English words have acquired new meanings on our soil, and still other words, once reputable, have become obsolete in England, but are still retained by Americans. Similar expressions and idioms are to be heard in Canada, Australia, India, and South Africa, in short, in all regions where a considerable number of English speaking people have colonized. The following list may be regarded as representative, but by no means exhaustive:

Baggage, trunks, handbags, and other personal belongings. The corresponding English expression is luggage. Bee, a gathering of neighbors or young people to do a piece of work; as a husking bee, to husk corn; a quilting bee to make a quilt. Bee-line, a straight line across country. We may say of a woodsman, for example, that he takes a bee-line for home. Blaze, to strike a bit of bark from a tree with an ax. Surveyors blaze a line through the woods. Blizzard, a violent snowstorm. Boss, a political manager. Boss Tweed of New York City may be mentioned as an eminent example of the American political boss. Buggy, a. light, four-wheeled driving vehicle. Calculate, to suppose. Canebrake, a thicket of cane. Canyon, a deep water-worn gorge. Caucus, a meeting to nominate candidates for office. Clearing, a field opened in the heart of a wood. The term is applied also to the operation of removing trees and stumps. Corn, maize or Indian corn. The British restrict the term to small grains. Creek, a small stream. The English call a short, narrow arm of the sea a creek. Crevasse, a break in the embankment of a river; a leak in a dike. Deadhead, one who rides or enters free when others pay. Deed, to convey title. Depot, a railway station. This use of the word is clearly wrong. A depot is by rights, a place for the storage of provisions or goods. Drummer, a traveling salesman; one who drums up trade. Fall, the autumn season. Gerrymander, to redistrict a state in order to advance the interests of a party or candidate. Grit, courage, determination. Sand is used with much the same meaning. Grocery, a place where groceries are sold. In great Britain a grocery is an article offered for sale. It is never the place of business. Guess, to suppose; as, "I guess so," for "I think so." Gulch, a ravine. Jew, to haggle over prices. Johnnycake, bread made from cornmeal. Hoecake is a similar word. Levee, a river embankment, a dike. Lick, a salt spring frequented by animals. There are famous licks in Kentucky. Likely, promising; as, a likely candidate. A likely lad is a lad of promise. The term, "likely negro," was used not infrequently in advertising slaves. Logrolling, in legislative circles, a system of exchanging help. Condensely stated, it means, "You vote for my measure and I'll vote for yours." Lot, a small tract of ground, as a city lot, a wood lot. Moccasin, a soft Indian shoe made originally of buckskin. One-horse, half able to do business; as, a one-horse concern. Platform, a statement of political principles. The various measures proclaimed in a political platform are called "planks." Prairie, a grassy plain. Ranch, a western farm. Ride, to travel in a vehicle. The British ride on a horse or other animal; they travel or journey in a conveyance. Saloon, a place where intoxicating drinks are sold. A European saloon is a place of reception; as, the saloon (or salon) of Madame de Stael. Shanty, a pioneer hut. A similar term is the dugout. Shop, a workshop. A British shop is a place where articles are offered for sale. A shopworn article, for instance, is an article offered for sale until it has deteriorated. Spry, agile, active. Emerson's squirrel, we may remember, reminds the mountain:

Squelch, to repress, to put down; as, to squelch an incipient riot. Stampede, a sudden flight, to put to flight. Thus we may speak of stampeding a drove of cattle, or we may say that the crowd stampeded when the police appeared. Store, a place of sale. The word originally meant warehouse. Stump, to go about making political speeches. Douglas and Lincoln, for instance, stumped Illinois together. Succotash, green corn and beans boiled together. Telescope, a kind of hand bag. The name has evidently arisen from the fact that one part of the telescope slides into the other, like a box into a deep cover. Tenderfoot, a newcomer; one unfamiliar with the ways of the country. In the West, especially, anyone newly arrived from the East is called a tenderfoot. A country lad in the city is more likely to be called a greenhorn. Ugly, ill natured. Vest, a masculine garment known in England as a waistcoat. Whittle, to cut wood with a knife. According to British usage, whittle is a knife-like implement.