Catchword: Big Apple

Filed under: New York City, English, United States

Part of speech: n.

Quotation: So many people have asked the writer about the derivation of his phrase, “the big apple,” that he is forced to make another explanation. New Orleans has called it to his mind again. A number of years back, when racing a few horses at the Fair Grounds with Jake Byer, he was watching a couple of stable hands cool out a pair of “hots” in a circle outside the stable. A boy from an adjoining barn called over. “Where you shipping after the meeting?” To this one of the lads replied, “Why we ain’t no bull-ring stable, we’s goin’ to ‘the big apple.’” The reply was bright and snappy. “Boy, I don’t know what you’re goin’ to that apple with those hides for. All you’ll get is the rind.”

Article or document title:
“In the Paddock” (URL)

Author:
John J. Fitz Gerald

Article, document, publication, web site:
Morning Telegraph

Publishing location:
New York City

Date of publication:
Dec. 1, 1926

Page number:
11

Original author:
Barry Popik