Wondering about wild grapes

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Wondering about highballs.

Since both my grandpas worked on the railroad, one was a conductor on the B&O railroad and the other was an engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad, I can safely say that I came from a railroading family.  Therefore, when I think of highball, I think of it in railroad terms other than in an alcoholic drink.  So, what is it that I am wondering about?  I am wondering why they call two such different things by the same name and why were they given that unusual name.  Let me start with the railroad.  Back in the old days, if a train station didn't have any pasengers, mail, or freight to load onto the next train, it would hoist a ball up onto the top of a mast so that the engineer could be signaled to keep on rolling down the track and that he didn't need to waste time stopping at the station.  The train would just speed past that station without stopping.  Later, any fast moving train, especially one speeding past a station, was said to be highballing it down the tracks.  Now, I wonder why it is always "down" the tracks or "down" the road.  Maybe a subject for another day.

Now, for those of you who abibe every so often by having a "highball" at a bar, have you ever wondered why it is called a highball?  It is believed that term was derived from some slang back in the late 1800's when the bartenders called their bar glasses "balls".  So, a tall glass was called a highball.  Yep, I bet you just couldn't live another day without having this important information, right? (grin)  Now, be real careful if you are highballing down the tracks or the highways especially after having a few highballs, you hear?

9 comments:

  1. I love hearing where these sayings come from. English is a colorful language.

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  2. I've heard that expression but never pursued its origin. I love learning new stuff... but even though I've never had a highball, it doesn't sound like something I want to try.... wait a minute... what's IN that glass anyway?

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  3. Sixbears, old saying always make me wonder their origins.

    Trouble, thanks.

    The Odd Essay, Don't ask me what is in a highball, I haven't had a drink of alcohol in twenty some years.

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  4. I never did like highballs - seems to me that it was spirits mixed with something, and if I like the taste of something I want it straight. Beer is my alcohol of choice now, but I only drink a small amount because I hate to feel "buzzed".

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  5. Hahaha my mother told me once, learn a little something every day - you're never too old to learn. Now what am I going to do with the information from this Dizzy?

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  6. Gypsy, alcohol in a mycotoxin and can cause all kinds of problems and beer probably has more different kinds in it. Mycotoxins cause cancer.

    Wanda, Useless information is just that, useless, unless you write a blog (grin).

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  7. I don't think there is such a thing as useless information! You just file it away under "stuff I might use someday!"

    Thanks for the info, buddy!

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  8. HJ, I love all kinds of information. I guess that is because I am always wondering about things. Your blog always gives me new things to wonder about.

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