Sidekicks

[spiff]

You know what i mean........'Super-hero X and his faithful sidekick Y'. But why 'sidekick'? What is it's origin? Cheers,ta.

[sft42]

The term comes from the days of notorious pickpocket activities in London. They had their own language for different pockets that were the style of the day. For example: Jerve as a vest pocket and Kick was a pocket on the side in a pair of trousers and the Pratt was the back pocket (hence prattfall when you land on your behind) of all the pockets, the most difficult to pick was the KICK, because it was close to the victim's leg and was always moving. After a while, smart people discovered that the safest spot to keep your money was in his side kick. Today the term now means a faithful partner or pet that is by ones side, often even helpful and protective.

[Quizmonster]

One meaning of 'sidekick was, as Sft says, a 'pocket', but that was an American rather than a London usage. 'Sidekick', in the sense of a bosom buddy - � la Batman and Robin - also comes from American usage and was an abbreviation/back-formation of 'side-kicker'...meaning something along the lines of someone on the same (football, perhaps) team.

I'm certainly not saying Sft's answer is wrong, but I do feel it is less likely as an explanation. Sorry, mate!

[spiff]

Cheers chaps! on a side note......... there seems to be a lot of people on this site who know lots of stuff. What say we combine, and form "The right royal mighty people's republic of answerbacknessness"? i'll even put a "P.L.C." on the end to entice the shy capitalists!!

[Quizmonster]

Did you mean 'answerbacknessness' or 'answerbanknessness, Spiff? Bagsy me to be President of the Republic!

[spiff]

Ok...fair play...I did mean answerbanknessness!! Yeah, 'course you can be President! I however, will be Emperor Of Earth and it's Dominions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Maniacal laugh decsending into infrasound)!