Local Idioms (again) 1

[2ffat]

Here is a phrase that I grew up with in Idaho but had forgotten about it until I read an article from my home-town newspaper.

Two individuals were standing in the barrow pit near the car. As the officer pulled behind the vehicle, the driver took off, nearly hitting one of the people standing nearby, according to a sheriff's department press release.

(See

http://www.southidahopress.com/articles/2006/06/02/news/local/1arsenal.txt)

Without doing a search, can you guess what a barrow pit is?

It is a popular term in the American West. I discovered that even some states' hunting rules include the term.

James P. Cottingham
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[sup]I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229![/sup]

 

[SantaMufasa]

I would really like to know where the term really come (sic) from.

See my explanation above.


"Barrow Pit", when used, is a degradation of the original term, "Borrow Pit". The mis-spelling occurred as a colloquial misrepresentation (possibly from "mis-hearing" the original term, then the mis-spelling simply stuck, as did the American mis-spelling (and now mis-pronunciation) [deriving from an "illiterut" turn-of-the-century Reynolds Corporation billboard advertisement] of the correct British spelling of the atomic element and product "Alumini um".)

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[mmerlinn]

Around here the term generally means a real pit, usually around freeway interchanges (flyovers to you Brits), that was excavated to provide material to build the interchanges. Usually seen throughout the American West, especially where the land is flat. Not seen too often where the land is hilly as excavation of the roadway usually provides enough material to build the interchanges.

Over time many of them fill with water becoming small lakes near the interchanges.

In recent years, they have been deliberately exacavated, not necessarily for building material, but to provide ecological filters for roadway runoff. These ecological filters are now seen in almost all new construction, including roadways, apartment buildings, shopping centers, etc.


mmerlinn

"Political correctness is the BADGE of a COWARD!"

 

[SantaMufasa]

BTW, It seems to me that the term "barrow pit" is an oxymororn:

"barrow" = "mound" +
"pit" = "a hole or cavity in the ground"

...while "borrow pit" is not contradictory.

...just a thought.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[SantaMufasa]

...oxymororn

...Whadda moron.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

In Canada (or Ontario anyway) that is called the "soft shoulder".

Dictionary.com gives that as "A border of soft earth running along the edge of a road."

[Cheers]

 

[2ffat]

I, too, have wondered about the oxymoronic (is this a real word) nature of the term. First off, it is a trench and not a pit. Second, it's filled so it's not even a trench anymore.

mmerlin,
In the south (USA), they also have ponds near freeway/interstate exchanges and also near large parking lots. They just call them runoff ponds. A lot of southern states require them so that the oil from rundown, leaky cars doesn't get into the watershed. I wonder if they have a fancy name for them, too.

James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
[sup]I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229![/sup]

 

[SantaMufasa]

2ffat, I know that on the cattle ranch we lived on near Americus, Georgia, we had ponds similar to your run-off-pond description, but it was to protect the watershed from the "runoff" produced by the prize bulls on the ranch. We called those ponds, "BullShed".

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[2ffat]

OK,OK I'm not even going to compete with that!

James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
[sup]I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229![/sup]

 

[SilentAiche]

In the south (USA), they also have ponds near freeway/interstate exchanges and also near large parking lots. They just call them runoff ponds. A lot of southern states require them so that the oil from rundown, leaky cars doesn't get into the watershed. I wonder if they have a fancy name for them, too.

[blue]Fjords?[/blue]

[blue]Pondiacs?[/blue]

[blue]Cadillakes?[/blue]

[blue]Yugo?[/blue] (no explanation required)

Tim



[blue]________________________________________________________
"To be rather than to seem" - Official Motto of the State of North Carolina[/blue]

 

[cresbydotcom]

Steering Lochs?
Renault Lagooners?

actually on the subject of Renault - they used to have a slogan for their Fuego

"Many are chosen!" but I read it as the "Renault Fewgo" only later did I realise it was pronounced "Fwaygo" - the ad was pulled rather quickly non-the-less.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Yep, Cresby, the Renault Fuego ads got "Fired"...Get it? <He...he...he>

Sorry...I'll sneak away now.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Careful Santa ... I know you have a "burning" desire to pun, but people have been "flamed" for "fire" less.

[Cheers]

 

[SantaMufasa]

, Cor. I nominate YOU for this month's "punny-ness" award! I'll go TCB (Take Care of Business) on that issue right now.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Well, thank you Santa! Coming from the current "Char"person of the pun society I must let you know that action is re"kindling" a "spark" in the brain cells which haven't yet "burned" out. Your kind nomination will be rem"ember"ed.

[Cheers]

 

[mmerlinn]

2ffat

Go back and read my third paragraph and compare it to your second. I think you will see we were both saying the same thing in different words.


mmerlinn

"Political correctness is the BADGE of a COWARD!"

 

[jsaxe]

The term, "borrow pit" is apparently not unique to the American West, there is a Borrow Pit Road near Edmeston, NY in Otsego County. The only house on the road is of a style that dates from the 1830's, and there is a gravel pit nearby.

On the other hand, the road is about eight miles east of the Unadilla River, which was at one time the Western Frontier of the US (c.1790).

jsaxe

Mundus Vult Decipi

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Wouldn't the term "Borrow" presume that the removed material would, at some point in time, be returned?

[Cheers]

 

[SantaMufasa]

Yea, right...like when my brother "borrows" money from me.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]

 

[tudogs]

In southeast Kansas where I was born we had flood control levies along the river. These were built by digging long pits along both sides of the levies. The locals always called them 'Bar Pits'. Now I know why.
I think this is local-speak for Barrow Pits.

Thanks Guys

Bob


Daughters are Gods Vengeance on Fathers for being Men.

 

[SantaMufasa]

TuDogs,

I'll bet if you listened closely to the locals pronunciations, that you would hear just a slight hint of a glottal stop between the two syllables, similar to "Bar-uh-Pits", thus confirming your suspicion that the term is just the colloquial pronunciation of "Borrow Pits". Right?

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I can provide you with low-cost, remote Database Administration services: see our website and contact me via www.dasages.com]