Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/01/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 01:34 PM 1/20/02 -0600, Sonny Carter wrote: >Uh, Marc and RP > I know that many people believe that sun-burnt necks was the root of the >phrase, but my sources disagree with that, and also with the idea I >presented, though I have heard the Scottish Mercenary story before, I was >unable to unearth it, since the Cammie Henry Research Center (where I work) >is closed for the long weekend. Sonny The Appalachians were filled to the brim with Irish and Highland Scots immigrants, but I (who come from this same stock) know of no special significance to "red" neckscarves among the Celts. In fact, in the northern UK and Scots Lowlands and in the Six Counties, "red neck" is a disparaging term used by Protestants speaking of Roman Catholics. And I am fairly familiar with a lot of American Civil War history -- after all, I live in the midst of its traces! -- and have never heard of any soldiers, North or South, with a practice of making a red scarf an item of their uniform. Interesting stuff! Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +276/343-7315 Cha robh bąs fir gun ghrąs fir! - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html