ChatterBank0 min ago
Sidekicks
5 Answers
You know what i mean........'Super-hero X and his faithful sidekick Y'. But why 'sidekick'? What is it's origin? Cheers,ta.
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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.
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!
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