Not P but Moby-Dick (21)

[David Morris]

Might it literally have derived from the farm workers “putting their hoes
down?”

On Sat, Oct 7, 2023 at 1:25 PM Ian Livingston <igrlivingston at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Yes, regarding association, though here the 'dance' is labor. The Long
> Island sailor's call that "all legs go to harvest soon" is acknowledgement
> that the Pequod is entering the latitudes where will they will soon be
> lowering boats to hunt whales. Hoedowns are traditionally events marking
> the harvest season. So, dance now, while you have the energy, you'll soon
> be bone-weary from bending to the work.
>
> On Tue, Oct 3, 2023 at 5:53 PM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > There may indeed be a connection. The first quote in OED for hoedown:
> >
> > As to dancing, no Long-Island negro could shuffle you ‘double trouble’,
> or
> > ‘hoe corn and dig potatoes’ more scientifically.
> > *Salmagundi; or, The whim-whams and opinions of Launcelot Langstaff,
> Esq.,
> > and others* • 1st edition, 24 Jan. 1807–25 Jan. 1808.
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Oct 2, 2023 at 9:21 PM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Also from Chapter 40:
> > >
> > > LONG-ISLAND SAILOR.
> > > Well, well, ye sulkies, there’s plenty more of us. Hoe corn when you
> may,
> > > say I. All legs go to harvest soon. Ah! here comes the music; now for
> it!
> > >
> > > The Norton Critical Edition says this is "A call to a hoedown, or a
> > square
> > > dance." Does "hoe corn" have anything to do with hoedown?
> > >
> > > Also, what does "All legs go to harvest soon" mean here?
> > >
> > >
> > --
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> >
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>