> Speaking of our feathered friends, James Ellroy is
to be
> commented for his brilliant coinage "shitbird", one
of the
> most comical insults I have heard in
years.
>
> Best regards,
>
> MrT
>
Did Ellroy actually coin this one? I might be wrong (very
likely) but I thought I'd come across the expression before,
or elsewhere at least. While we're on the topic I noticed
Ellroy used the expression "cap" (as in to kill/shoot
someone) in THE COOL SIX THOUSAND. I've only been aware of
this expression in more recent times, definitely 1980's or
later. Of course, I only become aware of these (US)
expressions when Hollywood or some other section of the mass
media uses them so it's very possible that the expression was
in use before I became aware of it. Does anyone know the
history (the etymology seems obvious enough) of this
expression?
Rene
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