BS: JEEP origin of word?

Subject: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Daithi
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 07:38 AM

Yep - I know that most people (including Chrysler) will tell you that the word "Jeep" is a contraction of "GP =General Purpose vehicle" describing the Willys jeep first produced in the 1940s.
BUT Didn't Popeye have a strange pet that looked half dog half cat that could be come invisible and walk through solid objects such as doors, walls etc. So it could literally go anywhere. In the late 1920s/early 30s?

And wasn't that pet called "Jeep"?

Does anybody know of an earlier example or alternative usage/origin of the term? Why "Jeep" exactly?
Not world-shatteringly important but I just like to know these things!
And EVERYBODY tramps out the same old GP=Jeep explanation...but I'm not convinced that's other than a co=incidental coinage.
D

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Amos
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 07:46 AM

I remember reading that the vehicle was named after the cartoon animal -- because it was able to go anywhere.

Striking how dusty that memory is -- and yet it pops right up. Next thing you know I'll be reciting episodes of Captain Video and the Ranger ! "Back, TOBOR! Back!". Never mind.

A

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: number 6
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 07:49 AM

Yes ... the dog on Popeye was called Jeep.I even had a dog I called Jeep.

I'm an old fan of the vehicle Jeeps having had 3 in my lifetime ... couldn't help but luv those old 4 x4's even if they had the most troublesome carberators around. Unfortuantely when Chrysler took over AMC, the jeep changed ... the current Jeep certainly is not like it's Willey's or even it's AMC ancestors.

As to the origin of the name Jeep, i'm unsure of exactly what it is.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: number 6
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 07:57 AM

Popeye's dog was actually called Eugene the Jeep. Will be keeping an eye on this thread ... I'd like to know how Eugene got his name.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: kendall
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 08:22 AM

The original Jeep was built by American Bantam but, being a small company, they were screwed out of the contract. Kinda reminds you of Halliburton, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: GUEST, 2nd world war vet'n
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:10 AM

It most assuredly came from the American use of G.P. for their vehicles....When they arrived here it was a JEEPEE vehicle and when they left it was a JEEP. Brit influence of course.

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:33 AM

I'll ask my father-in-law what he thinks.

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Peace
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:39 AM

One

"Anyway, your father-in-law is wrong about "jeep," and you are right, sort of. The word "jeep" definitely came from the name of the character "Eugene the Jeep," introduced in the Popeye comic strip in 1936. The association of "jeep" with the small four-wheel drive vehicle, however, wasn't made until a few years later. The Army designated these sturdy little trucks "General Purpose," or "G.P." for short. To soldiers raised on Popeye, the transformation of "G.P." into "jeep" was inevitable, and so pervasive that the Willys-Overland Motor Company trademarked the name "Jeep" in 1940."

from

www.word-detective.com/093098.html

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: GLoux
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 10:15 AM

From http://www.geocities.com/jeeptoys/history.htm:

The first coinage of the word "Jeep," as applied to a motor vehicle, occurred during WWI. According to Major E.P. Hogan, who wrote a history of the development of the Jeep for the Army's Ouartermaster Review in 1941, the word predated the controversy. "Jeep," he wrote, "is an old Army greasemonkey term that dates back to the last war (World War 1) and was used by shop mechanics in referring to any new motor vehicle received for a test." The word also found use in those days as a lessthancomplimentary term for new recruits. Jeep was still used in Army motor pools well into the 1930s when the next incarnation appeared and became the inspiration for many more Jeeps. On March 16, 1936, a comic strip character appeared that became an instant popular sensation. On that day, Eugene the Jeep was introduced to the already beloved Popeye comic strip by E.C. Segar. For those of us too young to have known Eugene well, he was described as being about the size of a dog, though he walked on his hind legs, and was a native of Africa. He subsisted on orchids and was said to be able to cross into the fourth dimension. He solved all sorts of complex problems for Popeye and Olive Oil, and always told the truth. The general public became so enamoured of Eugene the Jeep that his name quickly entered the slang vocabulary of the day. An average comment on an extremely capable person or thing might be, "Hey, he's a real Jeep!"

-Greg

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: number 6
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 10:42 AM

Maybe Eugene was named after the G.P. (Jeep)?

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Amos
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 10:47 AM

Thanks, Greg -- that expands my understanding of the thing significantly -- that fourth dimension capability made it a natural.

A

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 01:21 PM

I've seen this discussion before. Although G.P. as 'general purpose' is a nice idea, it seems that it is a mis-conception.
"'G' was used by Ford to differentiate between vehicles produced for the Government and for civilian use. (A= Passenger car, B= Bus, C= Commercial vehicle, etc.).
Letters were used at Ford to differentiate between different models with different horsepower ratings, wheelbase measurement, etc. 'P' just happened to land at the "80 inch" spot, which is the wheelbase of a jeep."
From This Page


Someone also suggested "Just Enough Exchangeable Parts"

CHEERS

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: GUEST,Q as gues
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 02:16 PM

J. E. Lighter, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, discusses several usages and origins, the first about the cartoon character introduced by Segar in "Thimble Theater," March 3, 1936 (Eugene the 'jeep').

'Jeep' is frequently used to designate a justice of the peace.

In an article in the Saturday Evening Post, July 16, 1938, 'jeep' was applied to an inexperienced person, and in the military was applied to a recruit or basic trainee.

In miltary usage, the term was applied to various small vehicles produced by Wilys-Overland. Research has shown that its origin as an alteration of GP for general purpose is unfounded. It was applied to the bantam vehicles used in the military (Infantry Journal), produced by Ford and Bantam.

In 1940, Q10 (and 1941, Washington Daily News), it was reported that 'jeep' had become a pet name for the "1/4 4x4" vehicle.

In 1942, 'jeep' was used for a small observation plane.
In 1942, it was reported in "Yank" that the 'jeep' was aplied to all small miltary objects.

In 1940, 'jeep' was applied to the Northrup N-1M plane.

The comments by GLoux about use in WW1 are interesting; I would like to see a full reference to the book. This origin is not mentioned in Lighter.

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Arne
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 02:22 PM

From "GP": General purpose utility vehicle (although IC above that this is disputed). Like "Hummer" coming from "high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle" (HMMWV) being shortened to the more pronounceable "HMMer"...

Cheers,

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: NH Dave
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 03:10 PM

During WWII the word Jeep was appended to a class of small rapidly built carriers, called Jeep Carriers, probably for their size, about 3/4ths the size of the standard carriers of the day. These carriers, many named for WWII battles or battle locations, were ideal for antisumarine work in both the Atlantic and Pacific. They also, often inadvertently, were involved in fleet action, where their commanders used them to great effect.

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: GUEST,Q as guest
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 03:53 PM

The use of the word for the small carriers, 'jeep carriers,' also is included in the Lighter "Historical Dictionary of American Slang," vol. 1.
A few other usages are listed in the long article, with many citations from print.

Lighter does not give evidence for rejection of the'GP- general purpose' hypothesis.
Lighter provides no quotes earlier than 1936 (the Eugene the jeep, Segar cartoon).

The Oxford English Dictionary suggests that the 'GP- general purpose' usage derived from "Eugene the Jeep."
"Eugene the Jeep" seems to be the earliest use provable in print.

"Jeepers" and Jeepers Creepers" seem to have no connection to the usage under discussion here.

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Don Firth
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 04:15 PM

Growing up during WWII, I had always heard the G. P. = "General Purpose Vehicle" explanation, shortened by GI's to "jeep," with a nod toward the Popeye's weird little pet. Eugene appeard around 1936. Eugene came from Africa, ate only orchids, and had a one word vocabulary:   "Jeep!"

Here's some stuff on Eugene (Clicky).

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: GUEST,smilin' Dan
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 02:34 PM

Well, that clears that up.?!

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: GUEST,Q as guest
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 03:05 PM

?! just about sums it up.
GLoux, can you quote a little more out of that article?

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 05:36 PM

A trivia query now---on other autos---how many here know what MG stands for in the name of the lovely British sports car of yore?   After that let us ask about BMW?

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: bobad
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 05:50 PM

Morris Garage

Bavarian Motor Werks

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 07:25 PM

and MAN, and ERF, and AEC, and FIAT, and SEAT etc ...

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 10:22 AM

You've ALL got it wrong. A friend of mine as a kid used to say "Jeepers," which his Mother insisted was a code word for "Jesus." Every time that he said Jeepers, his Mother accused him of swearing. (I have no idea where she came up with such a weird idea.) My friend being a kid, found his Mother no intellectual match, and started saying "Jeeps." He is in his early 70's now, and we met him and his wife at my Mother's 98th birthday party. When I recounted this story, his wife finally understood why he still uses that phrase.

Guess he didn't want his wife to wash his mouth out with soap for saying Jeepers.

so............ everytime someone says the word "Jeep," they are really using the Lord's name in vain.. :-)

Life gets weirder by the day..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 07:04 PM

Bobad---has it. OK---away from cars now. Initials have become ubiquitous---NCR, NEC,   JVC---who knows?


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Daithi
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:58 AM

Thanks to all who replied to my original query - fascinating stuff!
As for thread creep to acronyms in general...why not?
TTFN!
Dáithí

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:34 AM

Acronyms are named after the Greek philosopher Acronymes, who introduced us to the School of Plato, who was NOT a philosopher, but an early university. PLATO stood for Philosophical Learning And Teaching Organisation.

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: GUEST,, NOMADman
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 08:21 AM

For those less than impressed with the reliability of the Italian car, FIAT, the name is said to be an acronym for "Fix It Again Tony."

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: BS: JEEP origin of word?
From: GLoux
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 08:59 AM

Q, I've searched for Major E.P. Hogan and his history of the development of the Jeep for the Army's Quartermaster Review in 1941 and all I can come up with are similar references to the article, with nothing more substantial.

Maybe there's an answer in the fourth dimension...

-Greg