History of a label

[andy hughes]

I was surprised to hear the expression "wop" used in the Oscar Wilde biopic on TV this evening. I know it means 'without papers' and I always thought it originated during the mass imigrations of Italians to America in the 1920's and 30's, and was stamped on the forms at Ellis Island in the U.S.for Italian imigrants with no passports. My wife reckons it was used as early as Elizabethan times - can someone enlighten us? One for QM with his Sunday morning coffee perhaps.

[Quizmonster]

The word came from the Italian 'guappo' meaning 'a bold, showy ruffian'. In the early 20th century, it took on the meaning of 'pimp' in New York slang, then - briefly - it was applied to any foreigner. Strangely ebough, PG Wodehouse was first to use it to mean just 'Italian' as far as the written record goes. Cheers, Andy...it's a cup of tea, actually.

[andy hughes]

Thanks QM - I knew I couold count on you!