2006-08-31 17:08:09 · 20 answers · asked by kat 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
People used to do this as a form of torture. They would put hot tar on the person and then stick chicken feathers in it. It wasn't just for humiliation. First the tar would burn you, I would imagine, and then the pointy parts of the feathers would poke your already damaged skin. Very painful. Also, the only way to remove the tar was to peel it off, along with some of your skin. A very dangerous and terrible punishment. I am aware of tarring and feathering happening in the United States during the 1800s.
2006-08-31 17:11:29 · answer #1 · answered by drshorty 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It comes from when they used to dump hot tar on people and then throw chicken feathers on them so the feathers stick. It was a form of punishment and was done a lot here in the USA. My wife's' great-great grandpa was tared and feathered. It killed him as it did most.
2006-08-31 17:11:50 · answer #2 · answered by Steve N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This was an actual punishment in the old days, where they would shave a woman's head, cover her in tar, then add the feathers, either for perceived treason or other trumped up /false cultural/social 'disgrace'. The victim often died.
2006-08-31 17:11:50 · answer #3 · answered by J9 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because that's exactly what was done to some people as a punishment. They were coated with tar and had feathers dumped on them as a humiliation.
2006-08-31 17:10:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
From colonial times when they poured hot tar on someone, and then threw feathers on them as a punishment.
2006-08-31 17:10:10 · answer #5 · answered by legallyblond2day 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know that in Russia it was like a torture back in the days, they used first to tar the culprit, then roll him/her in feathers and then they chased the person on horses.
I wonder where did it originate?
2006-08-31 17:37:05 · answer #6 · answered by Mondschein! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really hurt and humiliated ppl after they committed something against morals or the law and they were tarred and feathered in the streets by the towns people.Then they were ran out of town!
2006-08-31 17:11:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ahh, yes... Mr. Romney, my home state governor. 'Tar baby' is indeed a racist comment. I'm sure the Mormon Romney would be insulted if someone made disparaging remarks about polygamy, f!cking annoying proselytising, or magic underwear, so he SHOULD know that 'tar baby' is a despicable term!
2016-03-27 03:00:53 · answer #8 · answered by Lori 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
coating someone in tar then rolling in feathers for punishment
2006-08-31 17:12:38 · answer #9 · answered by HEY boo boo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From the wild wild west. It was a form of punishment where people were literally tared and feathered and it hurt and burned and was hard to get off. It took days so everyone knew that had done something wrong.
2006-08-31 17:11:18 · answer #10 · answered by EMAILSKIP 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋