Larry's Pretty Good Word of the Day (prettygoodword) wrote,
Larry's Pretty Good Word of the Day
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sandhog

sandhog (SAND-hog, SAND-hawg) - n., a person employed to dig underground or underwater, such as excavating tunnels or bridge foundations (in caissons).


This is a colorful end-of-the-19th century Americanism, dating to just before 1900. Also called a sandhogger. It seems to have originated in New York, or possibly was popularized there because of the many construction projects there. Origin is unknown, but clearly the image of digging through sand (as in a river bottom) is intended.

---L.
Crossposts: https://prettygoodword.dreamwidth.org/823875.html
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