where did the term i'm going to hit the hay come from for going to bed?

Answer 1

Beds use to be made from hay or straw. Instead of foam and springs.

Answer 2

Meaning

Go to bed.

Origin

The term hay was used in the USA to mean bed since the early 20th century. For example, from People You Know, by the American author George Ade, 1902:

"After Dinner he smoked one Perfecto and then, when he had put in a frolicsome Hour or so with the North American Review, he crawled into the Hay at 9.30 P.M."

In 1902, mattresses were often sacks stuffed with straw or hay (hence the similar phrase 'hit the sack').

The phrase 'hit the hay' seems to have originated in the US sports scene. The Oakland Tribune, July 1903, reported this:

"'Sam' Berger, the Olympic heavyweight ... was sleepy and he announced that 'he was going to hit the hay.'"

In 1905, Paxton Sport USA included this:

[the baseball player] "has a language of his own. Going to bed for him is to 'hit the hay.'"

Answer 3

Before mattresses were made with the material they now use, people used hay as a filler for a bed. It was warm. That is why animals still use hay to rest on during the winter.
Hay, to horsehair, to cotton, etc.
Thus, the term, I'm going to hit the hay.

Answer 4

In the old days, Mattresses were stuffed with straw(hay). Rich people had feather beds. Hay was inexpensive and most people grew their own. Only problem, It Attracted rodents looking for a warm place to sleep in the winter.

Answer 5

I think from when people slept on hay.

Answer 6

well back in the day
wen ppl. thought that if you bathed more than once a year a demon might invade your body. (realy no lie)
we didint have the nice things you now have.
so hay wos soft.
and yall wimin like nice stuff.
so
yep you gest it

Answer 7

FROM WHEN PPL USED TO SLEEP IN BARNS...OR WHEN THEY HAD MATRESSES MADE FROM HAY...ORIGINALLY THOUGH I THINK IT CAME FROM MARY AND JOSEPH!!!!

Answer 8

i think 'imma kill the nakita' is a betta term, dont u?

Answer 9

pple that slept in barn yards.