Word: jonathan
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...lately been published, entitled "A Copy of the Laws of Harvard College, 1655," which gives some interesting facts regarding the government of the College, and some very curious rules relating to the dress and deportment of the students. The original manuscript was given in 1683 to Jonathan Mitchell, Freshman, it being customary at that time for Freshmen, on their entrance, to possess themselves of manuscript copies of the laws, as it is now to provide them with "Bibles"; and these manuscripts, on account of the scarcity of paper, were wont to be handed down from class to class. These laws...
...mention one example of a college-coined word, originating here, which has attained a celebrity equal to that which the students of Cambridge, England, have given to "Hobson's choice," and that is the word "Yankee." It was in circulation here about 1713. According to Dr. William Gordon, Farmer Jonathan Hastings was a man from whom the students used to hire horses. He would use the expression, "A Yankee good horse," to denote an excellent good horse. The students gave him the name of Yankee Jon. Yankee became a by-word to denote a silly, awkward person, and being carried...