Because the word “cootie” is an Americanism, it is much more likely a loan-word from the Tagalog “kuto” than from the Malay “kutu”. The Philippines was an American colony from 1898 until 1946, a time frame that coincides with the first appearance of the word “cootie”, referring to a body louse, in print during World War I.
Comments by stevechasmar
stevechasmar commented on the word cootie
Because the word “cootie” is an Americanism, it is much more likely a loan-word from the Tagalog “kuto” than from the Malay “kutu”. The Philippines was an American colony from 1898 until 1946, a time frame that coincides with the first appearance of the word “cootie”, referring to a body louse, in print during World War I.
August 4, 2011
stevechasmar commented on the word pigsticker
The "pigsticker topi" mentioned in Orwell's "Burmese Days" (quoted above) was a type of pith helmet.
August 4, 2011