what is the origin of the etiquette rule that has men walk on the outside of a lady?

Question

On the outside while walking down the street.

Answer 1

I once heard it was so that when a vehicle went down the street and splashed a water or mud puddle, the splash would get on the man before the woman. Made sense at the time.

Answer 2

I heard that in merry ole London, the slop was strewn from windows on the 2nd & upper levels, into the street & to protect the lady, the chivalrous* thing to do was to be slightly away from the building towards the curb, gutter, in order to reconicer & reduce the garbage from the lady. Also as a buffer between horses & the lady...it's always for the lady!

*marked by gracious courtesy and high-minded consideration especially to women

Answer 3

Streets were a very dirty place at the time. Streets were still just mud, and garbage and waste were just thrown out of windows. The worst place to stand was along the side of the street, so gentlemen protected ladies by exposing them to as little filth as possible.

Answer 4

Uh... Just to protect her from the stray hazards of the roads. It's more likely that a challenge will come from that way, a car or other vehicle might come from there- whatever. The girl can run away easier and the man can take the brunt of any problems that occur.

Today I simply do it so the chick doesn't get hit by a car. I like girls. I don't want the ones I date to be flattened out all over the road.

Answer 5

In old cities people would throw rubbish out from their windows. Women walked on the inside of the street under the awnings while the man braved falling garbage like a true gentleman.

Answer 6

One theory I recall is this. Back in the middle ages, there was no indoor plumbing. People used chamber pots. To empty these pots, they dumped them out the windows usually from a second story. Being chivalrous, the man would stand closer to the street so he could absorb (ugh!) the contents of the chamber pots.

Answer 7

In olden times .. London when chamber pots and wash basins were common... They would dump the soiled water out the window usually falling straight down... Me at the times considered themselves much more superior and when walking their lady friends .. Had the lady next to the build to block the refuse from hitting him.. .. It was nit because of chivalry or protection or mud from the road ...

Answer 8

BACK IN THE OLDEN DAYS WHEN STREETS WERE NOT PAVED THE RAINY DAYS WOULD CREATE MUD HOLE AND LARGE PUDDLES OF WATER THUS THE MAN WOULD WALK ON THE OUTSIDE TO PROTECT THE WOMEN FROM GETTING SPLASHED.

Answer 9

It was so that the man could protect a woman from being splashed by mud and other rude substances back in the middle ages or even before that.

It was also so that he could more easily draw his sword to protect himself and the lady.


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Answer 10

i actually heard it was safety so the man would take the brunt of an automobile or a "horse and buggy" accident.... the water splash seems more realisic tho