VLVL2 (1) Missed Communications: Beginnings

[Paul Mackin]

On Mon, 2003-07-21 at 09:46, Elainemmbell at aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 7/17/2003 12:01:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
> mjoseph at rci.rutgers.edu writes:
> 
> > To "rat" one's hair is
> > such an unusual term, 
> 
> actually, this is not an unusual term--it was a very common colloquialism in 
> the early 60's and was a synonym for "teasing" or "back-combing", a 
> hairdressing method used to create those big, poufy bouffant hairdos that were then in 
> vogue.  I doubt that either "teasing" or  "rat" were literary inventions.
> Elaine M.M. Bell, Writer
> (860) 523-9225


Plus "rat" as a noun is a tapered solid object (wood or plastic) around
which a woman's hair is arranged to give it a more massive look..

Very common in days of yore.

P.