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Printed 109 years ago today in The Seattle Star. Image brightness/contrast and sharpness slightly modified; see the original.

Found on the Library of Congress site.

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[-] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 34 points 2 months ago

In the context of the early 1900s, "skin" is used as a verb meaning to move swiftly or slip away. It is related to phrases like "skin out," which means to leave quickly or hastily. This usage likely stems from the idea of "skinning" as a quick, slick action, akin to how one might swiftly peel or slip off the skin of an object. The origin can be traced back to the notion of moving in a smooth or gliding manner, possibly related to older idiomatic expressions involving quick actions.

[-] Mongostein@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 months ago

My mom used to say “skin a rabbit!” To get me and my sibling to lift our arms and she’s quickly take off our shirts before a bath or bed or whatever.

There was also an old dude that lived next door that used to farm rabbits and skin them in his back yard.

It more than likely refers to skinning animals, as people did that themselves more commonly back then.

[-] shasta@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

In that usage yes, but the grammar in the image implies a different definition.

[-] Mongostein@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

I mean yes, but when you skin a rabbit, you rip the skin off really quickly. So pretty sure “skin” here means to do something quickly

[-] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 13 points 2 months ago

"you skin into the house" is a new one for me

Also, that looks less like a switch and more like a fucking cane. Mr. True went easy on this fella

[-] Rolando@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago

Mr. True went easy on this fella

I dunno, a shovel to the back of the head could easily kill someone.

I thought this was an interesting cartoon because Everett isn't objecting to the corporal punishment, but to the hypocrisy of the neighbor.

Back then, hitting your kid with a stick was considered good parenting. Nowadays, hitting your kid is illegal in much of Europe and Latin America.

[-] gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 months ago

more like a fucking cane

Really? What came is shorter than someone's legs and ends in a point?

Looks like a whippin' stick to me

You know, "go find me a stick"?

[-] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 months ago

Cane as in, like, bamboo. Not a walking cane

this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2024
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Everett True Comics

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A place to appreciate the twentieth century comic character Everett True of "The Outbursts of Everett True." Feel free to check out the sticky.

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