Date:  Wed, 3 Jan 1996 11:56:12 -0500

From:  Jesse T Sheidlower <jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM>

Subject: Re: new word?



> I have recently heard a word I presume to be Black English, though

> reported by a white. Does anyone know the derivation/etymology

> or even the meaning of the following : huji/hoojie? It is supposed

> to refer to whites.



This is a Black E variant of _hoosier._ The earliest example I

know of is from ca1970 in DARE s.v. hoosier 1.b., showing this

pronunciation phonetically. We have scattered examples since

then. Note that C. Major in _Juba to Jive_ suggests dates of

1940s-60s, and while this is not improbable, Major is extremely

unreliable for this sort of thing. It does mean 'white person',

and the evidence shows contemptuous use.



Jesse Sheidlower

Random House Reference

<jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com>