What is the origin of the phrase 'a ****'s age'..as in "I haven't heard that saying in a ****'s age"?

Answer 1

People use to think that raccoons lived to an old age and a **** is slang for raccoon so if you say "I haven't seen you in a coons age" it means you haven't seen him in for a long time.

Answer 2

It actually refers to raccoons. The expression "in a ****'s age" dates to the early 1800s, and to the folk belief that raccoons are long-lived. My pal Colibri of the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board says, "References differ, but a wild individual raccoon might live up to 5 to 7 years (average survival being much lower, though, probably 2-3 years), and in captivity they can live up to 14-17 years. So their lifespan is comparable to that of a dog."

In the early 1800s, it's doubtful if anyone knew how long raccoons actually lived, and two to three years in the wild is not really very long. But raccoon fur is hardy and reasonably durable, which might have given rise to the belief of longevity.

Many slang terms use the term "****" to mean raccoon. Their black eye-mask and nocturnal habits suggest anthropomorphic parallels, so we get the term "****" meaning to steal or pilfer, for instance. The word also was used in the 1830s to mean a rustic, a country-bumpkin. In 1840, the **** was the figurehead of the Whig Party. (Where are the Whigs now when we need them?)

Unfortunately, many of those negative stereotypes were applied to black people, hence the derogatory term "****," first used in the 1850s but more commonly heard after 1890. Some etymologists speculate that the term was used because of the raccoon's dark coloring rather than its real or imagined behavior. Whatever the case, the usage is highly offensive today – heck, it was highly offensive back then. For that reason, "in a ****'s age" makes many people uncomfortable, notwithstanding its innocent origin. You might try "in a dog's age" or "in donkey's years" (British), which have the same meaning. Or "in a month of Sundays," which avoids animals altogether. Better yet, do us all a favor and come up with an original expression. We haven't had a novel way of saying "for a long time" in a ****'s age.

Answer 3

it is a hillbilly phrase dealing with a lenght of time. have you heard of snake legs? again,aphrase to say instead of swearing. land de goshen, a phrase saying, oh my!from north carolina. you may hear alot of different during you lifetime you could write a book.

Answer 4

Raccoons are known to live for very long periods of time.

Answer 5

ya dayadayadayada take it down south baby you here that all day long in good southern family