What is the origin of the phrase “bush league”?Why is it called an “Indian file”?What is the origin of “choke in the clutch”?Why do cricket and baseball each use the term 'pitch' but in different senses?In which countries would “tags” be understood to mean “License plates and stickers that show the registration is currently valid”?Can I call you?Origin and earliest recorded use of 'fungo'What is the origin of the American expression “s*** fire”?What does the phrase “stone-gloved first baseman” mean?Accented syllable after a glottal stop in NA EnglishIs the voicing voiceless consonants common in the US?
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What is the origin of the phrase “bush league”?
Why is it called an “Indian file”?What is the origin of “choke in the clutch”?Why do cricket and baseball each use the term 'pitch' but in different senses?In which countries would “tags” be understood to mean “License plates and stickers that show the registration is currently valid”?Can I call you?Origin and earliest recorded use of 'fungo'What is the origin of the American expression “s*** fire”?What does the phrase “stone-gloved first baseman” mean?Accented syllable after a glottal stop in NA EnglishIs the voicing voiceless consonants common in the US?
I know it's baseball terminology, but I've never heard anyone explain why a feeder or low-level league is associated with shrubs. Is there some relation in the phrase to "farm system"?
sports north-american-english
asked Sep 18 '13 at 6:23
Jim NelsonJim Nelson
2602410
add a comment |
I know it's baseball terminology, but I've never heard anyone explain why a feeder or low-level league is associated with shrubs. Is there some relation in the phrase to "farm system"?
sports north-american-english
asked Sep 18 '13 at 6:23
Jim NelsonJim Nelson
2602410
1
GR: etymonline.com/… - via "Bush" In British American colonies, applied from 1650s to the uncleared districts, hence "country," as opposed to town (1780);
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:31
What does your research show, Jim?
– Kristina Lopez
Sep 19 '13 at 17:50
Kirstina, my research discovered the first half of the definition from Etymonline (small-town baseball leagues), but not the second half, which Choster did a nice job of elucidating.
– Jim Nelson
Sep 19 '13 at 20:34
add a comment |
I know it's baseball terminology, but I've never heard anyone explain why a feeder or low-level league is associated with shrubs. Is there some relation in the phrase to "farm system"?
sports north-american-english
asked Sep 18 '13 at 6:23
Jim NelsonJim Nelson
2602410
I know it's baseball terminology, but I've never heard anyone explain why a feeder or low-level league is associated with shrubs. Is there some relation in the phrase to "farm system"?
sports north-american-english
sports north-american-english
asked Sep 18 '13 at 6:23
Jim NelsonJim Nelson
2602410
asked Sep 18 '13 at 6:23
Jim NelsonJim Nelson
2602410
asked Sep 18 '13 at 6:23
Jim NelsonJim Nelson
2602410
asked Sep 18 '13 at 6:23
Jim NelsonJim Nelson
2602410
asked Sep 18 '13 at 6:23
Jim NelsonJim Nelson
2602410
2602410
1
GR: etymonline.com/… - via "Bush" In British American colonies, applied from 1650s to the uncleared districts, hence "country," as opposed to town (1780);
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:31
What does your research show, Jim?
– Kristina Lopez
Sep 19 '13 at 17:50
Kirstina, my research discovered the first half of the definition from Etymonline (small-town baseball leagues), but not the second half, which Choster did a nice job of elucidating.
– Jim Nelson
Sep 19 '13 at 20:34
add a comment |
1
GR: etymonline.com/… - via "Bush" In British American colonies, applied from 1650s to the uncleared districts, hence "country," as opposed to town (1780);
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:31
What does your research show, Jim?
– Kristina Lopez
Sep 19 '13 at 17:50
Kirstina, my research discovered the first half of the definition from Etymonline (small-town baseball leagues), but not the second half, which Choster did a nice job of elucidating.
– Jim Nelson
Sep 19 '13 at 20:34
1
1
GR: etymonline.com/… - via "Bush" In British American colonies, applied from 1650s to the uncleared districts, hence "country," as opposed to town (1780);
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:31
GR: etymonline.com/… - via "Bush" In British American colonies, applied from 1650s to the uncleared districts, hence "country," as opposed to town (1780);
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:31
What does your research show, Jim?
– Kristina Lopez
Sep 19 '13 at 17:50
What does your research show, Jim?
– Kristina Lopez
Sep 19 '13 at 17:50
Kirstina, my research discovered the first half of the definition from Etymonline (small-town baseball leagues), but not the second half, which Choster did a nice job of elucidating.
– Jim Nelson
Sep 19 '13 at 20:34
Kirstina, my research discovered the first half of the definition from Etymonline (small-town baseball leagues), but not the second half, which Choster did a nice job of elucidating.
– Jim Nelson
Sep 19 '13 at 20:34
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
According to Etymonline,
"mean, petty, unprofessional," 1906, from baseball slang for the small-town baseball clubs below the minor league where talent was developed (by 1903), from bush (n.) in the slang sense of "rural, provincial," which originally was not a value judgment.
In other words, we're speaking not of bushes, but of the bush:
1) an uncultivated or sparsely settled area… 2) the countryside, as opposed to the city.
Americans do not commonly refer to rural areas as the bush these days (though Australians and South Africans do), but we do speak of the sticks, the boondocks, and the backcountry among others— "places" which are in the middle of nowhere, and as a result whose natives lack refinement in etiquette or skills.
Bush remains in baseball, but it seems only as a pejorative.
answered Sep 18 '13 at 7:36
chosterchoster
38k1486139
I already posted that in a comment
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:45
2
@mplungjan It was better to put it as an answer, not a comment.
– Chan-Ho Suh
Sep 18 '13 at 10:10
It was better ignored as a General Reference :) and citing the same reference as I did, did not add much in my opinion
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 11:38
add a comment |
Can't speak to accuracy, but I played ball all the way up to a reasonably high level, eventually down south. I remember vividly what we all thought it meant from what everyone told us down there (TN, AL, TX, MS, etc.)... The imagery was just too funny to forget: "bush league" was ball played at such a low level the management couldn't afford to rid the outfield of weeds and small bushes. Bushes could also include those used as an outfield wall, especially when the dimensions and location of the infield was built around a natural barrier.
answered Mar 28 '18 at 17:00
VMJVMJ
1
add citations if you please. It will increase the value of your answer.
– lbf
Mar 28 '18 at 18:45
add a comment |
When the word derived I don’t think there was a farm system. Could this discribe the difference in play between Negro League and professional white baseball,
answered 7 hours ago
NORMAN SNOWDENNORMAN SNOWDEN
1
New contributor
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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active
oldest
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
According to Etymonline,
"mean, petty, unprofessional," 1906, from baseball slang for the small-town baseball clubs below the minor league where talent was developed (by 1903), from bush (n.) in the slang sense of "rural, provincial," which originally was not a value judgment.
In other words, we're speaking not of bushes, but of the bush:
1) an uncultivated or sparsely settled area… 2) the countryside, as opposed to the city.
Americans do not commonly refer to rural areas as the bush these days (though Australians and South Africans do), but we do speak of the sticks, the boondocks, and the backcountry among others— "places" which are in the middle of nowhere, and as a result whose natives lack refinement in etiquette or skills.
Bush remains in baseball, but it seems only as a pejorative.
answered Sep 18 '13 at 7:36
chosterchoster
38k1486139
I already posted that in a comment
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:45
2
@mplungjan It was better to put it as an answer, not a comment.
– Chan-Ho Suh
Sep 18 '13 at 10:10
It was better ignored as a General Reference :) and citing the same reference as I did, did not add much in my opinion
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 11:38
add a comment |
According to Etymonline,
"mean, petty, unprofessional," 1906, from baseball slang for the small-town baseball clubs below the minor league where talent was developed (by 1903), from bush (n.) in the slang sense of "rural, provincial," which originally was not a value judgment.
In other words, we're speaking not of bushes, but of the bush:
1) an uncultivated or sparsely settled area… 2) the countryside, as opposed to the city.
Americans do not commonly refer to rural areas as the bush these days (though Australians and South Africans do), but we do speak of the sticks, the boondocks, and the backcountry among others— "places" which are in the middle of nowhere, and as a result whose natives lack refinement in etiquette or skills.
Bush remains in baseball, but it seems only as a pejorative.
answered Sep 18 '13 at 7:36
chosterchoster
38k1486139
I already posted that in a comment
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:45
2
@mplungjan It was better to put it as an answer, not a comment.
– Chan-Ho Suh
Sep 18 '13 at 10:10
It was better ignored as a General Reference :) and citing the same reference as I did, did not add much in my opinion
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 11:38
add a comment |
According to Etymonline,
"mean, petty, unprofessional," 1906, from baseball slang for the small-town baseball clubs below the minor league where talent was developed (by 1903), from bush (n.) in the slang sense of "rural, provincial," which originally was not a value judgment.
In other words, we're speaking not of bushes, but of the bush:
1) an uncultivated or sparsely settled area… 2) the countryside, as opposed to the city.
Americans do not commonly refer to rural areas as the bush these days (though Australians and South Africans do), but we do speak of the sticks, the boondocks, and the backcountry among others— "places" which are in the middle of nowhere, and as a result whose natives lack refinement in etiquette or skills.
Bush remains in baseball, but it seems only as a pejorative.
answered Sep 18 '13 at 7:36
chosterchoster
38k1486139
According to Etymonline,
"mean, petty, unprofessional," 1906, from baseball slang for the small-town baseball clubs below the minor league where talent was developed (by 1903), from bush (n.) in the slang sense of "rural, provincial," which originally was not a value judgment.
In other words, we're speaking not of bushes, but of the bush:
1) an uncultivated or sparsely settled area… 2) the countryside, as opposed to the city.
Americans do not commonly refer to rural areas as the bush these days (though Australians and South Africans do), but we do speak of the sticks, the boondocks, and the backcountry among others— "places" which are in the middle of nowhere, and as a result whose natives lack refinement in etiquette or skills.
Bush remains in baseball, but it seems only as a pejorative.
answered Sep 18 '13 at 7:36
chosterchoster
38k1486139
answered Sep 18 '13 at 7:36
chosterchoster
38k1486139
answered Sep 18 '13 at 7:36
chosterchoster
38k1486139
answered Sep 18 '13 at 7:36
chosterchoster
38k1486139
38k1486139
I already posted that in a comment
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:45
2
@mplungjan It was better to put it as an answer, not a comment.
– Chan-Ho Suh
Sep 18 '13 at 10:10
It was better ignored as a General Reference :) and citing the same reference as I did, did not add much in my opinion
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 11:38
add a comment |
I already posted that in a comment
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:45
2
@mplungjan It was better to put it as an answer, not a comment.
– Chan-Ho Suh
Sep 18 '13 at 10:10
It was better ignored as a General Reference :) and citing the same reference as I did, did not add much in my opinion
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 11:38
I already posted that in a comment
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:45
I already posted that in a comment
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:45
2
2
@mplungjan It was better to put it as an answer, not a comment.
– Chan-Ho Suh
Sep 18 '13 at 10:10
@mplungjan It was better to put it as an answer, not a comment.
– Chan-Ho Suh
Sep 18 '13 at 10:10
It was better ignored as a General Reference :) and citing the same reference as I did, did not add much in my opinion
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 11:38
It was better ignored as a General Reference :) and citing the same reference as I did, did not add much in my opinion
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 11:38
add a comment |
Can't speak to accuracy, but I played ball all the way up to a reasonably high level, eventually down south. I remember vividly what we all thought it meant from what everyone told us down there (TN, AL, TX, MS, etc.)... The imagery was just too funny to forget: "bush league" was ball played at such a low level the management couldn't afford to rid the outfield of weeds and small bushes. Bushes could also include those used as an outfield wall, especially when the dimensions and location of the infield was built around a natural barrier.
answered Mar 28 '18 at 17:00
VMJVMJ
1
add citations if you please. It will increase the value of your answer.
– lbf
Mar 28 '18 at 18:45
add a comment |
Can't speak to accuracy, but I played ball all the way up to a reasonably high level, eventually down south. I remember vividly what we all thought it meant from what everyone told us down there (TN, AL, TX, MS, etc.)... The imagery was just too funny to forget: "bush league" was ball played at such a low level the management couldn't afford to rid the outfield of weeds and small bushes. Bushes could also include those used as an outfield wall, especially when the dimensions and location of the infield was built around a natural barrier.
answered Mar 28 '18 at 17:00
VMJVMJ
1
add citations if you please. It will increase the value of your answer.
– lbf
Mar 28 '18 at 18:45
add a comment |
Can't speak to accuracy, but I played ball all the way up to a reasonably high level, eventually down south. I remember vividly what we all thought it meant from what everyone told us down there (TN, AL, TX, MS, etc.)... The imagery was just too funny to forget: "bush league" was ball played at such a low level the management couldn't afford to rid the outfield of weeds and small bushes. Bushes could also include those used as an outfield wall, especially when the dimensions and location of the infield was built around a natural barrier.
answered Mar 28 '18 at 17:00
VMJVMJ
1
Can't speak to accuracy, but I played ball all the way up to a reasonably high level, eventually down south. I remember vividly what we all thought it meant from what everyone told us down there (TN, AL, TX, MS, etc.)... The imagery was just too funny to forget: "bush league" was ball played at such a low level the management couldn't afford to rid the outfield of weeds and small bushes. Bushes could also include those used as an outfield wall, especially when the dimensions and location of the infield was built around a natural barrier.
answered Mar 28 '18 at 17:00
VMJVMJ
1
answered Mar 28 '18 at 17:00
VMJVMJ
1
answered Mar 28 '18 at 17:00
VMJVMJ
1
answered Mar 28 '18 at 17:00
VMJVMJ
1
1
add citations if you please. It will increase the value of your answer.
– lbf
Mar 28 '18 at 18:45
add a comment |
add citations if you please. It will increase the value of your answer.
– lbf
Mar 28 '18 at 18:45
add citations if you please. It will increase the value of your answer.
– lbf
Mar 28 '18 at 18:45
add citations if you please. It will increase the value of your answer.
– lbf
Mar 28 '18 at 18:45
add a comment |
When the word derived I don’t think there was a farm system. Could this discribe the difference in play between Negro League and professional white baseball,
answered 7 hours ago
NORMAN SNOWDENNORMAN SNOWDEN
1
New contributor
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
When the word derived I don’t think there was a farm system. Could this discribe the difference in play between Negro League and professional white baseball,
answered 7 hours ago
NORMAN SNOWDENNORMAN SNOWDEN
1
New contributor
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
When the word derived I don’t think there was a farm system. Could this discribe the difference in play between Negro League and professional white baseball,
answered 7 hours ago
NORMAN SNOWDENNORMAN SNOWDEN
1
New contributor
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
When the word derived I don’t think there was a farm system. Could this discribe the difference in play between Negro League and professional white baseball,
answered 7 hours ago
NORMAN SNOWDENNORMAN SNOWDEN
1
New contributor
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 7 hours ago
NORMAN SNOWDENNORMAN SNOWDEN
1
New contributor
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 7 hours ago
NORMAN SNOWDENNORMAN SNOWDEN
1
answered 7 hours ago
NORMAN SNOWDENNORMAN SNOWDEN
1
1
New contributor
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
NORMAN SNOWDEN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
GR: etymonline.com/… - via "Bush" In British American colonies, applied from 1650s to the uncleared districts, hence "country," as opposed to town (1780);
– mplungjan
Sep 18 '13 at 7:31
What does your research show, Jim?
– Kristina Lopez
Sep 19 '13 at 17:50
Kirstina, my research discovered the first half of the definition from Etymonline (small-town baseball leagues), but not the second half, which Choster did a nice job of elucidating.
– Jim Nelson
Sep 19 '13 at 20:34