Mudcat Café message #1171200

The Mudcat Café ^TM
Thread #69174 Message #1171200
Posted By: Bob Bolton
26-Apr-04 - 09:45 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: House that Jerry Built
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: House that Jerry Built

G'day Charlie,

My Shorter Oxford Dictionary gives 1881 for "Jerry-builder" ... refers to "Jerry", short for "jerry-builder as 1882: "Said to have arisen in Liverpool, recorded in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire glossaries."

It looks as if this song was cashing in on a newly popular / useful phrase.

Regards,

Bob Bolton