From horseplay to flea markets

I’m keeping at least part of this week’s ‘What’s the Word’ in the family, so to speak, in that my brother, Ralph Pedigo, who apparently reads my column, asked me if I know where the term ‘flea market’ comes from.

Now some folks may be wondering why my surname is Johnson and my brother’s surname is Pedigo, so a little family history may be in order here. Actually it’s really quite simple, and no, we’re not half-brothers. To keep a long story short, a series of circumstances occurred when I was younger that resulted in my being adopted by my dad’s sister, Nelle Pedigo Johnson and her husband Thurman.

I am actually the youngest of six children born to Wesley and Mary Pedigo, some of whom many of you may know, since one brother was a local physician and two of my sisters were teachers in the local school system.

And though it may seem a bit self-serving to list them, I’m going to do it anyway. (Hopefully they won’t mind.)

They are, in order of age from oldest to youngest, Dr. Thurman Lee Pedigo Sr., the aforementioned Ralph Pedigo, an engineer who worked for J.D. Mullican and later at Cape Kennedy and AEDC, teachers Evelena Pedigo Mason Ashburn and Linda Pedigo Caviness, and former Warren County Fairest of the Fair, Virginia Pedigo Newby.

And it’s not like I’m proud to be their brother or anything, I just thought it might clear up any confusion people may have about the difference in surnames, as well as letting people know a bit about where I come from and my ties to Warren County.

And now back to brother Ralph’s question about the origin of ‘flea market,’ which happens to be a pretty interesting one as it turns out.

There are three popular origins listed for this particular term. The most popular contends the term comes from the French ‘march?? aux puces,’ a name originally given to a huge outdoor market in Paris. Apparently the fleas were thought to be in the goods, some of which were of the type to attract vermin. One of the earliest English usage listed dates back to 1922.

Another theory associates the term with New York City’s 18th century ‘Fly Market,’ which the city’s considerable Dutch population called ‘vlie,’ which means valley but is pronounced ‘flea.’

I personally find the third theory the most interesting, but the least plausible. This one says the term was coined at a time when the slums and alleys of Paris were being demolished and replaced by new construction, so the dealers in second-hand goods who plied their trade in these old neighborhoods were forced to flee. Legend has it the new locations for these markets were referred to as ‘flee markets,’ which later became ‘flea market.’

Anyway, hope that answers your question brother.

Co-worker Veola Sutherland, one of the Standard’s layout artists, wondered out loud where the term ‘horseplay’ comes from.

The term, which means rough or boisterous play, may have originated from the knockabout comedy of the ‘hobbyhorse,’ a child’s toy made of a stick with an imitation horse’s head which the children could pretend to ride.

Another charming explanation for this one comes from ‘Morris-dancers’ which were popular in ‘Merry Olde England.’ These groups were often accompanied by players who used a different form of hobbyhorse, a wickerwork frame in the shape of a horse that was fastened round the waist of a comic performer in the Morris-dance so it would look like they were riding it. These dancers were expected to perform wild antics and run around uncontrollably ‘ hence, horseplay.

Charlie Johnson is news editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].