Soapweed
Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Haha, had you fooled, didn't I?
All I did was find Google and type in "G in G-string". The following came up in ask.yahoo.com.
Ask Home - Yahoo! - Help
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ask Yahoo!
Ask a question
Thursday May 15, 2003 Previous | Next
Dear Yahoo!:
What does the "G" in G-string stand for? No one can give me a sensible answer.
Becki
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dear Becki:
Looks like this is another one of those pesky questions that doesn't have a definitive answer. Like the etymology of many common terms, the origin of G-string is rather shady. Indeed, our search results proved disappointingly skimpy. But after much research, we are able to hazard three educated guesses.
Theory One: It's short for "girdle string."
The first known reference to the item was found in J.H. Beadles' Western Wilds penned in 1878. "Around each boy's waist is the tight 'geestring,' from which a single strip of cloth runs between the limbs from front to back." Back in the day, a girdle pretty much fit the above description.
Theory Two: It's a reference to a fiddle.
Musically speaking, a G-string is the lowest, darkest string on a violin. The emphasis on this theory is on the word "low" -- low note, low-cut underwear.
Theory Three: It comes from a Native American word.
Many etymologists believe that it originated from the native word "geestringi." Apparently this was an item of clothing worn by some Plains Indians. The word was changed to the more English sounding "G-string."
So there you have it. Personally, we're leaning towards theory #3. For some more (thought) provoking material, try Googlism's G-string entry.
Related Links
· Ask Y!: Who invented the bikini?
· Ask Y!: When and why did men begin wearing ties?
· Y! Shopping: Lingerie
More Questions About
· Words & Wordplay
· Fashion & Beauty
· Yahoo! Answers - Words & Wordplay
· Yahoo! Answers - Beauty & Style
Get Ask Your Way
· Most Popular
· Yahoo! Toolbar
·
Email this page - Save to del.icio.us Save to My Web Digg This
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2003 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy
All information available through or in connection with Ask Yahoo! is informational only and provided "as is" without warranties, representations, or guarantees of any kind. Yahoo! disclaims any and all implied warranties respecting Ask Yahoo!. Use of Ask Yahoo! is entirely at your own risk and is not a substitute for conducting your own research.
