There has been much hue and cry over where the world “malarkey” that Joe Biden used in the Vice Presidential debate came from.
It was the most searched word on Google for the past 24 hours and trended as hashtag on Twitter.
Some have claimed it was a Bostonian pronunciation of the Irish name “Malachy”, phonetically as in “malaki”
Biden said it was Irish but the Oxford Dictionary sniffed that it was of unknown origin.
According to the Oxford Book of Slang, it can be spelled Malarky, Malarkey or Mullarkey, just like the surnames.
But thanks to NPR we have established the Irish provenance of the name.
NPR reports "We can likely thank a cartoonist of Irish descent, Thomas Aloysius Dorgan ('TAD' for short), for popularizing the word. You might recall Dorgan's name from previous discussions of hot dog ... [he] helped to circulate some other words in the American lexicon, among them malarkey, hard-boiled, and kibitzer.
"When Dorgan began using the word, its spelling wasn't settled. In a cartoon of his that appeared on Mar. 9, 1922, the word Milarkey was used as a fictitious place name. Two years later, on April 2, 1924, he used the word Malachy, apparently with its nonsense meaning ('Malachy — You said it — I wouldn't trust a lawyer no further than I could throw a case of Scotch')."
Dorgan who signed himself off as “Tad” was an Irish American from San Francisco who was famous for his illustrations and sports cartoon in the late 19th century. He later moved to New York where he died in 1929.
According to Wikipedia, “Dorgan is generally credited with either creating or popularizing such words and expressions as "dumbbell" (a stupid person); "for crying out loud" (an exclamation of astonishment); "cat's meow" and "cat's pajamas" (as superlatives); "applesauce" (nonsense); "cheaters'" (eyeglasses); "skimmer" (a hat); "hard-boiled" (a tough person); "drugstore cowboy" (loafers or ladies' men); "nickel-nurser" (a miser); "as busy as a one-armed paperhanger" (overworked); and "Yes, we have no bananas," which was turned into a popular song.”
And obviously malarkey too.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.KweenOHearts | Oct 23, 2012, 04:29 PM EDT
oVomit lovers... poor, deluded moroooons who refuse to check 'reality.'
seanomelb | Oct 16, 2012, 03:05 AM EDT
The etch and sketch show is doomed.
jamieLM | Oct 15, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT
Biden's a "National Treasure" all right, if you're looking for someone to laugh like a hyena, joke, interrupt, say "malarkey", and smirk his way through a discussion of serious issues facing the U.S., like drowning in national debt, Iran having a nuclear weapon, and 4 dead Americans in Libya. Ha, ha, ha. Someone should've told Biden that he wasn't auditioning for American Idol. I tuned in to hear Biden and Ryan deliver their pol. agendas. Instead, I was distracted by Bozo the Dem. Clown and his rude, juvenile antics and I'm a registered Independent.
EphraimKibbey | Oct 15, 2012, 12:16 AM EDT
I'll say it again, Joe Biden you are a National Treasure. Thank you for calling Ryan/Romney on their lies and enjoying yourself with each slash of your rapier wit. The only thing Americans hate more than being lied to is having the liers think they are getting away with their lies. For all of America, Thank you for setting the record straight.
Stiofain | Oct 14, 2012, 08:04 PM EDT
Ryan got everything Biden could throw at him, and more. As well as his lying partner.
seanomelb | Oct 14, 2012, 07:12 PM EDT
Biden smiling relaxed and informative!! gave Ryan a lesson in economics
Smyrnian | Oct 14, 2012, 04:31 PM EDT
Biden acted like a sneering jackass.
borefield | Oct 13, 2012, 09:54 PM EDT
I agree with jflanagan, Biden was rude, condescending , mocking and a bully. He was either doing a commercial for a teeth whitening product, drunk or just off his meds. He really let himself down and his party. Obama said he did a great job. Amazing the qualities of decency, and good manners the president admires. Laughing and sneering during a discussion about our Ambassador and three other decent Americans that were murdered, says a lot about his priorities.
pilib04 | Oct 13, 2012, 09:09 PM EDT
Malarkey is all the Republicans have.
seanomelb | Oct 13, 2012, 07:52 PM EDT
Have a tissue jflanagan and wipe your blooded nose.
jflanagan | Oct 13, 2012, 07:49 PM EDT
Joe Biden is the most phoney, rude and idiotic politician in my history of following real people, not Joe, and bold faced liars, Joe!
Searlit | Oct 13, 2012, 07:35 PM EDT
Joe Biden looked like the professor and Paul Ryan like the young student, who when asked the answer to a question claimed I don't understand math or science!
seanomelb | Oct 13, 2012, 06:49 PM EDT
CBS said he won"big time" with independent voters. He put Ryan in his place and nailed the coffin.
Murph46 | Oct 13, 2012, 05:34 PM EDT
Joe couldn't find his arse in the dark.CNN said he lost big,Tom Brokaw said he is a farce.
EphraimKibbey | Oct 13, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT
Thanks for the history lesson.
cillowen | Oct 13, 2012, 12:49 PM EDT
The word is Biden's for ever - what's with the beef? He done kicked arse in spite of media maven need for something to say until the end of time. Its the nature of those creepy crawlers who have the Tele and all avenues to themselves. Their ugly face makover offsprings are making us puke as we eat.
Nicoletta | Oct 13, 2012, 11:27 AM EDT
The malarkey was all in Biden's denouncement of Ryan for lying when he in fact was the liar. WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement, October 12. Full text follows: Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees: "With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact." This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain "religious employers." That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to "Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital," or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.
jamthecat | Oct 13, 2012, 11:14 AM EDT
Too bad Joe's not running for president this go around; I'd vote for him
like2tweet | Oct 13, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT
Joe will run for prez in 2016 -- that's no malarkey
Eschetic | Oct 13, 2012, 10:33 AM EDT
Thank you, Mr. O'Shea, for this bit of our shared culture. I've always hewed to the "malarky" spelling and pronunciation, but with due thanks to the sainted Mr. Dorgan, however you spell or pronounce it, that's what the gym bunny from Wisconsin was shoveling the other night.
CelticQueenUSA | Oct 13, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT
I think Joe just had a hard time believing anything coming from Ryan. Who would know more than the Vice-President about the real facts. He smiles and comments were natural when responding to the ridiculous comments of Ryan. Good on you Joe.
hermitTalker | Oct 13, 2012, 09:10 AM EDT
Joe used the word "stuff" for his normal word that comes from bulls, horses and camels. His whole manner, comments and grinning smirk, and inaccurate statements showed he was a stage-Irishman, the stock of anti-Irish burlesque shows.