Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 18:30:21 -0500 From: Gregory {Greg} Downing Subject: Re: doppkit/ditty bag At 05:27 PM 1/26/98 -0600, you wrote: >I've heard some WWII folks call shaving kits "ditty bags." What does >that mean? > >Thanks, >Jessie Emerson > OED2 on ditty-bag: [Origin obscure: according to Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. it `derives its name from the dittis or Manchester stuff of which it was once made'; but no evidence of this is given, nor is anything known of the stuff alleged.] Definition: A bag used by sailors to contain their smaller necessaries. Greg Downing/NYU, at greg.downing[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nyu.edu or downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]is2.nyu.edu