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"red up"

UserPost

4:54PM
Feb-04-12


Rebecca Quinlan

Member

posts 4

my mother and all of my family from southwest Pennsylvania uses the term "red (read???) up" to mean clean up as in "Let's red up the house for company."  Any insights into this usage?

8:30PM
Feb-04-12


Dick

Fort Worth, TX

Member

posts 95

It means "ready up" or "get ready."  I could be wrong but this is how I have understood this all my life.

10:49PM
Feb-04-12


tromboniator

Member

posts 215

It's redd up, set in order or make tidy. Seems to be a Scots term, early 16th century.

 

Peter

2:57PM
Feb-05-12


Rebecca Quinlan

Member

posts 4

so….never occurred to google it (duh) and I find that wickipedia says it is a Pennsylvania Dutch term that means clean up….which makes great sense given the region.  thanks all