| Author |
Message |
Will
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:33 pm
Post subject: Lawn jockey |
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While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
Will.
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Donna Richoux
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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Will <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
|
It's a reasonable guess, and maybe someone used it metaphorically like
that, but actually it usually refers to an actual, traditional ornament
or statue -- originally a hitching post. Here's a picture of one from
Google Images:
http://www.confluence.org/us/va/n38w077/pic4.jpg
The earlier form would show a black servant or slave offering to hold
one's horse; these became symbols of racism (like cigar-store Indians).
--
Best - Donna Richoux |
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Don Phillipson
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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"Will" <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d36f7597.0411100317.3577e030@posting.google.com...
| Quote: | While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
|
No: think garden gnome. The lawn jockey
(formerly usually Negro) about two feet high
is the single most common figurative lawn
ornament found in the USA.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)
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Jess Askin
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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"Donna Richoux" <trio@euronet.nl> wrote in message
news:1gn1dsm.1d7u1xx1ebmv1rN%trio@euronet.nl...
| Quote: | Will <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote:
While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
It's a reasonable guess, and maybe someone used it metaphorically like
that, but actually it usually refers to an actual, traditional ornament
or statue -- originally a hitching post. Here's a picture of one from
Google Images:
http://www.confluence.org/us/va/n38w077/pic4.jpg
The earlier form would show a black servant or slave offering to hold
one's horse; these became symbols of racism (like cigar-store Indians).
|
Later replaced by a version where the guy looked kind of like Joey Bishop --
popular mostly with Jewish families, would be my guess. |
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Will
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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billrigby@hotmail.com (Will) wrote in message news:<d36f7597.0411100317.3577e030@posting.google.com>...
| Quote: | While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
|
Of course, I meant either "who sat astride a sit-on lawn mower" or
"who bestrode a sit-on lawn mower".
Will. |
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Tony Cooper
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 12:48:27 -0500, "Don Phillipson"
<d.phillipson@ttrryytteell.com> wrote:
| Quote: | "Will" <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d36f7597.0411100317.3577e030@posting.google.com...
While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
|
Once a week I mount my riding lawn mower (the US term) and mow the
grass. A menial task, but I don't know if you could say it was done
by a menial.
| Quote: | No: think garden gnome. The lawn jockey
(formerly usually Negro) about two feet high
is the single most common figurative lawn
ornament found in the USA.
|
This is the lawn jockey that has been front of our house for several
decades. http://home.earthlink.net/~tony_cooper213/jockey.jpg
Before that, it was in front of my parent's house.
He stands 3.5 feet tall, he's made of concrete, he's never been
painted, and he has generic facial features. No horse has ever been
tied to that ring, but he stands ready. |
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Pat Durkin
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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"Will" <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d36f7597.0411101115.2bb14ff7@posting.google.com...
| Quote: | trio@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux) wrote in message
news:<1gn1dsm.1d7u1xx1ebmv1rN%trio@euronet.nl>...
Will <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote:
While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
It's a reasonable guess, and maybe someone used it metaphorically like
that, but actually it usually refers to an actual, traditional ornament
or statue -- originally a hitching post. Here's a picture of one from
Google Images:
http://www.confluence.org/us/va/n38w077/pic4.jpg
The earlier form would show a black servant or slave offering to hold
one's horse; these became symbols of racism (like cigar-store Indians).
I read your reply (for which many thanks) and was minded to ask why
such an item sould be called a "lawn jockey". That was before I
opened the picture. Here in the UK we (well, not me or mine, but
others) decorate their gardens with gnomes. For the traditional
variety, look here:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/kimmelgnomes_1815_182742
For something a little more à mon goût, try this:
http://www.bifrost.com.au/hosting/gnomes/
|
Ah. At last. Gnomes with hats colored other than red, (although later on
the page the reversion occurs).
By some strange coincidence, two of my immediate neighbors have such
red-capped gnomes. One figure is a two-fer. Both have the figures on the
steps to their stoops.
An item of greater popularity than gnomes in my walking neighborhood is the
doggie behind. At Xmas time, one household puts lights on the doggie tail.
At least one has a motion sensor installed, so that the doggy behind wiggles
as one walks by, as if the pup has found something delightful in the
underbrush. A few weak "yips" can be heard, when the car traffic is light. |
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Will
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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trio@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux) wrote in message news:<1gn1dsm.1d7u1xx1ebmv1rN%trio@euronet.nl>...
| Quote: | Will <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote:
While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
It's a reasonable guess, and maybe someone used it metaphorically like
that, but actually it usually refers to an actual, traditional ornament
or statue -- originally a hitching post. Here's a picture of one from
Google Images:
http://www.confluence.org/us/va/n38w077/pic4.jpg
The earlier form would show a black servant or slave offering to hold
one's horse; these became symbols of racism (like cigar-store Indians).
|
I read your reply (for which many thanks) and was minded to ask why
such an item sould be called a "lawn jockey". That was before I
opened the picture. Here in the UK we (well, not me or mine, but
others) decorate their gardens with gnomes. For the traditional
variety, look here:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/kimmelgnomes_1815_182742
For something a little more à mon goût, try this:
http://www.bifrost.com.au/hosting/gnomes/
Will. |
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Don A. Gilmore
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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"Don Phillipson" <d.phillipson@ttrryytteell.com> wrote in message
news:AJskd.85$Su4.1025@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
| Quote: | "Will" <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d36f7597.0411100317.3577e030@posting.google.com...
While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
No: think garden gnome. The lawn jockey
(formerly usually Negro) about two feet high
is the single most common figurative lawn
ornament found in the USA.
|
Don't forget the reflective ball and accompanying concrete Jesus.
Don
Kansas City |
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rzed
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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"Don Phillipson" <d.phillipson@ttrryytteell.com> wrote in
news:AJskd.85$Su4.1025@newscontent-01.sprint.ca:
| Quote: | The lawn jockey
(formerly usually Negro) about two feet high
is the single most common figurative lawn
ornament found in the USA.
|
More common than bathtub virgins? Not where I come from.
--
rzed |
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Poet Fury
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:04 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 12:48:27 -0500, Don Phillipson wrote:
| Quote: | No: think garden gnome. The lawn jockey
(formerly usually Negro) about two feet high
is the single most common figurative lawn
ornament found in the USA.
|
Beating out pink flamingos?
--
http://www.genjerdan.com/nvm/tdis/index.html
Of course it's music. It has notes in it, doesn't it? |
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R H Draney
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:04 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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Jess Askin filted:
| Quote: |
"Donna Richoux" <trio@euronet.nl> wrote in message
news:1gn1dsm.1d7u1xx1ebmv1rN%trio@euronet.nl...
The earlier form would show a black servant or slave offering to hold
one's horse; these became symbols of racism (like cigar-store Indians).
Later replaced by a version where the guy looked kind of like Joey Bishop --
popular mostly with Jewish families, would be my guess.
|
Why would Jewish families want a Bishop on their lawns?...
(Ba-RUM-pum!)...r |
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don groves
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 6:06 am
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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In article <cmtlun016m2@drn.newsguy.com>, R H Draney at
dadoctah@spamcop.net exposited:
| Quote: | Jess Askin filted:
"Donna Richoux" <trio@euronet.nl> wrote in message
news:1gn1dsm.1d7u1xx1ebmv1rN%trio@euronet.nl...
The earlier form would show a black servant or slave offering to hold
one's horse; these became symbols of racism (like cigar-store Indians).
Later replaced by a version where the guy looked kind of like Joey Bishop --
popular mostly with Jewish families, would be my guess.
Why would Jewish families want a Bishop on their lawns?...
(Ba-RUM-pum!)...r
|
Unless they're Aussies, then they might want a joey.
(ba-ba-boom!)
--
dg (domain=ccwebster) |
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Steve Hayes
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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On 10 Nov 2004 03:17:00 -0800, billrigby@hotmail.com (Will) wrote:
| Quote: | While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
|
"Astride", not "bestride".
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk |
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John Varela
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 6:06 am
Post subject: Re: Lawn jockey |
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On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 18:53:59 UTC, "Don A. Gilmore" <eromlignodNOSPM@kc.rr.com>
wrote:
| Quote: | "Don Phillipson" <d.phillipson@ttrryytteell.com> wrote in message
news:AJskd.85$Su4.1025@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
"Will" <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d36f7597.0411100317.3577e030@posting.google.com...
While reading Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" I came across the term
"lawn jockey". At the time, I took it to mean a menial who sat
bestride a sit-on lawn-mower.
Am I right?
No: think garden gnome. The lawn jockey
(formerly usually Negro) about two feet high
is the single most common figurative lawn
ornament found in the USA.
Don't forget the reflective ball and accompanying concrete Jesus.
|
That's called a "gazing ball".
Don't St. Francises outnumber Jesuses?
--
John Varela
(Trade "OLD" lamps for "NEW" for email.)
I apologize for munging the address but the spam was too much. |
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