Comments on: Shoo-fly http://www.word-detective.com/2010/03/shoo-fly/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David http://www.word-detective.com/2010/03/shoo-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-45741 David Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:26:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2321#comment-45741 The etymology of shoofly may indicate "short fly" as a possible origin, being a short length of RR track used as a workaround. This would suggest slurred speech by uneducated railway workers and non-English speaking immigrants, both common in the 19th century railroad industry. Most common uses of the word shoofly can be imagined as referring to a "workaround", what you do when you can't or don't do the usual or "correct" thing, such as making a pie from molasses, or a short-cut rocker. Workarounds can also be annoying, such as stopping work on the main fly to build temporary track in difficult terrain. In South America today a popular cocktail is the shoofly, so dubbed by 19th century American RR engineers who could not get the alcohol they wanted from the US and cobbled something together from local liquor as a temporary workaround. Shoo-fly is a common railroading term for temporary workaround and can be found on the Internet http://roadwaystandards.dot.wi.gov/standards/fdm/hidden/transmittals/t385/17-40.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bypass_(road)#Shoofly The etymology of shoofly may indicate “short fly” as a possible origin, being a short length of RR track used as a workaround. This would suggest slurred speech by uneducated railway workers and non-English speaking immigrants, both common in the 19th century railroad industry. Most common uses of the word shoofly can be imagined as referring to a “workaround”, what you do when you can’t or don’t do the usual or “correct” thing, such as making a pie from molasses, or a short-cut rocker. Workarounds can also be annoying, such as stopping work on the main fly to build temporary track in difficult terrain. In South America today a popular cocktail is the shoofly, so dubbed by 19th century American RR engineers who could not get the alcohol they wanted from the US and cobbled something together from local liquor as a temporary workaround. Shoo-fly is a common railroading term for temporary workaround and can be found on the Internet

http://roadwaystandards.dot.wi.gov/standards/fdm/hidden/transmittals/t385/17-40.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bypass_(road)#Shoofly

]]> By: John http://www.word-detective.com/2010/03/shoo-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-45591 John Sat, 10 Nov 2012 05:51:08 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2321#comment-45591 At last I've found a reference! Shoofly was used by pipeliners in the 50's-70's to denote a temporary access for equipment where the pipeline ditch was unusually inaccessible. At last I’ve found a reference!
Shoofly was used by pipeliners in the 50′s-70′s to denote a temporary access for equipment where the pipeline ditch was unusually inaccessible.

]]> By: Duke http://www.word-detective.com/2010/03/shoo-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-44921 Duke Fri, 26 Oct 2012 23:12:03 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2321#comment-44921 The term is commonly used for a temporary power line around a work site also. The term is commonly used for a temporary power line around a work site also.

]]> By: Nick http://www.word-detective.com/2010/03/shoo-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-39541 Nick Tue, 15 May 2012 03:08:06 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2321#comment-39541 Having lived in eastern Pennsylvania (very close to the Amish) for most of my life; 'shoo-fly pie' was (is) a classic dessert. If you never have, but do get the chance to try it... make sure it's a 'wet bottom' pie! Having lived in eastern Pennsylvania (very close to the Amish) for most of my life; ‘shoo-fly pie’ was (is) a classic dessert. If you never have, but do get the chance to try it… make sure it’s a ‘wet bottom’ pie!

]]> By: Pete http://www.word-detective.com/2010/03/shoo-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-37047 Pete Sun, 01 Apr 2012 02:26:50 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2321#comment-37047 Railroaders use the term "shoo-fly track" or simply "the shoo-fly" to refer to a temporary by-pass around a washout, bridge replacement project, etc. Railroaders use the term “shoo-fly track” or simply “the shoo-fly” to refer to a temporary by-pass around a washout, bridge replacement project, etc.

]]> By: Maria Emilia http://www.word-detective.com/2010/03/shoo-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-34644 Maria Emilia Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:44:28 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2321#comment-34644 It was a nice surprise to find your site. Very well written and with useful information. Thanks! It was a nice surprise to find your site. Very well written and with useful information. Thanks!

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