Date:  Tue, 9 Jan 1996 14:59:41 -0600

From:  Miriam Meyers <mmeyers[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MSUS1.MSUS.EDU>

Subject: Re: 'old maid'



Yes. I never heard it growing up in the South (Atlanta), or even on the

east coast, though it may have been present in my northerly east coast

homes. I learned it here (Minneapolis) from a friend whose parents hail

from Virginia and W. Virginia (though they may have picked it up elsewhere

in their movings about).



Miriam Meyers/Metropolitan State University/Mpls-St. Paul



>Of the 23 students (juniors and seniors) in my Introduction to

>Linguistics class at Auburn, only 1--a 24-year-old female from

>Jacksonville, Florida (parents from Iowa and South Dakota)--was familiar

>with 'old maid' in this context.

>

>Cynthia Bernstein

>Dept. of English

>Auburn University, AL 36849-5203

>

>On Fri, 5 Jan 1996, Joan Hall wrote:

>

>> DARE's anecdotal evidence suggests that the term 'old maid,' for an unpopped

>> kernel of popcorn, is chiefly North and North Midland. But we didn't ask

>> this on our Questionnaire, so we don't have nationwide coverage. Are you

>> familiar with this term? If so, when and where? Thanks in advance.

>>

>> Joan Hall

>>



Miriam Meyers

Metropolitan State University

mmeyers[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]msus1.msus.edu