Do you know where these words and phrases happen to come from?

While reading a Ralph Compton western paperback novel recently, I ran across a phrase I had never heard before. A woman was asking an outlaw if he had any remorse for being a bad person. He then issued the following statement: “Lady, I’ve been on the wrong side of the law since who flung the chunk.” Though the context of the words seemed obvious – apparently he had been an outlaw for a very long time – finding the origin of the phrase was my next endeavor. None of the people I talked to were familiar with “since who flung the chunk” so I consulted the Internet. Someone there suggested they had seen the phrase in some Louis L’Amour books, so I wondered if it was a phrase used in the Old West. Another compared the phrase to the term “time immemorial,” which made sense, but got me no closer to the origin than I was before. My father used a phrase that had a similar meaning of a very long time. He would say we would be doing something “til who tied the pup.” Now there is another phrase that finding the origin for has been a lesson in futility. So all of this has made me wonder about the origin of bowling terms and phrases. I have managed to find a few, though whether you will believe in the validity of my research or not, is certainly open to question. Everyone has heard of a Brooklyn Strike, right? The term is used to describe a shot where a bowler goes across the headpin to the opposite pocket. A right hander would carry a strike when the ball hit in the 1-2 “pocket” and a left hander would do the same in the 1-3 “pocket.” So where did this term come from? If you guessed the New York City area, you are correct. The phrase came about as bowlers from New York and New Jersey competed in the sport. When a New York bowler crossed over the head pin he was said to have crossed the river into New Jersey and thus threw a Jersey strike. New Jersey bowlers then decided if one of their own did the same thing he was said to have gone to the Brooklyn side. For the most part, a Brooklyn strike became a popular part of bowling’s lexicon. The Jersey Strike was not as common – or was it? I guess it depends on where you live. I read the explanation on the web and then read comments from readers. One comment was that only New Yorkers refer to the Jersey Strike, whereas everyone uses the term “Brooklyn.” A man then wrote in from Pennsylvania. He was 50 years old and said he had never heard the term “Brooklyn Strike” before reading it that day. His buddies always use the term “Jersey Strike” for one that crosses over. On the other hand, a man wrote from the United Kingdom that he knew of the Brooklyn strike but had never heard of the Jersey Strike. Now, I have heard local bowlers refer to the New York pocket. I think they were referring to a bowler that put the ball in the pocket that he was supposed to use. When a bowler leaves the 5-7-10 split, it usually brings a round of laughter. Even though the bowler is not particularly amused, everyone else thinks it is hilarious. I found that this particular split is normally called the sour apple. Where did that term come from? I could not find the origin, but I did find three other terms to describe this leave. I’m curious as to how many of you have heard Lily, Full Murray or The Three Wise Men for the 5-7-10 split. Another bowling term is the “turkey,” used when a bowler gets three consecutive strikes. I’m guessing everyone has heard of this term, but again where did it come from? According to my sources, the term dates back to the 1800s and had to do with promotions that bowling proprietors used during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Throwing strikes was decidedly more difficult back then, so bowling establishments gave away a turkey to a bowler who could throw three consecutive strikes. Get this. The turkeys given away were live! The local leagues nearly are done, so there is no honor roll for this week. I have received word that in one league’s roll off a monster score of 720 was recorded. You will have to wait for my “Salute to the Champions” column to find out who fired this score. It does make me wonder how long it’s been since I shot a 700 series. Let me think I believe it’s been since who flung the chunk at the tied pup! Al Stephenson is the bowling columnist for The Advertiser-Tribune. Read his blog at: www.advertiser-tribune.com