> Spike Jones wrote:
> >
> > PPS/tangent on a tangent: I have heard the term fuckin A since I was
> > a young man, and have never understood what it means or where it
> > came from. It must have a very odd etymology. Any ideas? The
> > way it is used is to mean, "indeed, correct, verily", etc. Is there an
> > early reference in literature? spike
>
> Doug Jones wrote: It's army creole, I grew up with it. Tom Wolfe mentioned
> the term in
> "The Right Stuff".
The term predates "The Right Stuff", one of my favorite books from
the time it came out. I lived in Ridgecrest CA when it hit the theaters,
and I saw it five times. Having lived near the Space Center during the
days that book covers, I affirm that Wolfe got it about as right as
anyone who has written on the subject.
I figured the "A" part is a variation of "aye." Have you Canadian friends
who use the term "eh?" as we might say "yes?" seeking affirmation.
And we all know the other is a variation of "extremely". spike
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