Why is the "pffftttt" sound we make with our tongue out called a raspberry?
Asked by
AstroChuck (
37609
)
September 22nd, 2009
from iPhone
You know the sound I’m talking about, right? It’s also know as a “Bronx cheer.”
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10 Answers
I didn’t even know it had a name, let alone two! But I’m sorry, I have no idea.
Cuz that’s the SOUND you make when you spit out raspberry seeds, silly!
Nomenclature varies: in the US, Bronx cheer is sometimes used; otherwise, in the US and in other English-speaking countries, it is known as a raspberry, rasp or razz—the origin of which is an instance of rhyming slang, in which the non-rhyming part of a rhyming phrase is used as a synonym. In this case, “raspberry tart” rhymes with “fart”.[1] It is first recorded in 1890.[2]
(From Wikipedia. Google is your friend.)
Point of interest: A headbutt is called a Glasgow handshake in England.
After further searching, it seems like wiki does explain the origins of “razzing” best.
Seems like the original “razz” was done on a horn. Then later copied by people with their tongues. Somehow this evolved into people calling it a raspberry instead of razzing.
@pdworkin- I know that you have to be right. In the ninteenth century the British loved to do rhyming word games and a lot of phrases we still use today came out of these. In fact Bill Bryson talks about these games in his excellent book The Mother Tongue. I’ll have to go dust off my copy and see if he mentions anything about raspberries. I’ll bet he does.
Mad lurve to you, my friend!
You would ask this question.
I thought it was called beatboxing!
I have no idea why it’s called a raspberry, but I’ve used it on @evelyns_pet_zebra before :)
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