Canuper, a Cocktail or Stiff Drink

Hi, you have A Way with Words.

Hello, this is Pete from Minneapolis.

I’m originally from International Falls where the question comes from.

Okay, Pete from Minneapolis, let’s hear it.

The word canuper. I heard it in my hometown about how it was used was somebody would say, “Let’s go have a canuper” or “I’ll buy a canuper.” I’ve always thought it to be referred to like make an alcoholic drink or whatever, but I never knew what it really meant or where it came from.

Oh, yeah. And so this is in International Falls, Minnesota, where you grew up?

Yes.

And so about how long ago do you think you first heard it?

Many, many years ago. I’m 75 years old right now, but it was while I was growing up there.

Okay. Well, it’s interesting. This term isn’t listed in any of my dialect or slang dictionaries. It’s very strange because usually they’re very good on language for alcohol and alcohol consumption because it’s just one of those things that’s so productive. Slang lexicographers tend to have an ear and an eye for it.

So I have done some digging on this, and we’ve actually had a couple listeners to the show ask about this over the years. Will Hartman says his grandfather called a highball a kanuper. And Dennis Holscher said it was old timers in his family too, but they were referring to a shot of whiskey. And when I look in archives of digital books and newspapers, I almost completely found all of the uses of this word in connection with Minnesota, except for one connection with Wisconsin.

Yeah.

Almost exclusively in Minnesota.

So it looks like a Minnesota term. So kanooper has been spelled C-A-N-O-O-P-E-R or K-A-N-U-P-E-R are variations on the theme. But kanooper is how it looks and how it’s how it I guess it sounds like you’re saying it.

But there’s one intriguing fact that I found that I’m going to share with you that it’s a possible origin. Just possible. It’s the best I could have got for you. Did you ever watch a fishing show by a fellow named Red Fisher?

I can’t recall.

Okay, so Red Fisher was an American who had a television show, however, on Canadian television from 1963 to 1989. And it was a very popular show. I don’t know if this was ever broadcast in Minnesota. I’m just speculating because sometimes Canadian programs are broadcast in the United States too. You know, they’re carried on public television.

He tells this interviewer in this book, Vicky Gabbro, who worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, that he coined the term. He says he made up the term canuper for a fisherman.

Yeah.

That’s what he says. He did it. So this book was published in 1987, and he says he made it up years ago. And that’s the only information I have about the possible origin. And Red Fisher was quite a character. But his show was hugely popular, so popular that it spawned all kinds of imitators and parodies and that sort of thing.

-huh. Okay.

Well, I have to take your word for that.

Well, it’s not my word. It’s his word.

Oh, okay. Yeah, that’s true.

Because the earliest use that I have of the word in print, where it’s clearly referring to an alcoholic drink, is the 1970s, which is very strange to me.

Oh.

Yeah, because I feel like it should be older, given that a lot of the places where I first find it in print is obituaries of people born in the 30s and the 20s.

Right, who like to have a canooper of brandy.

Yeah, a lot of these obituaries say, “Have a canuper in honor of so-and-so.” And their birth dates are like 1938, 1921.

Oh.

It was 1918. But they’re all from Minnesota. I was going to say, Pete, I would be very interested to hear if any of our listeners who don’t have a connection to Minnesota have used this term, canuper, for a drink. Buy you a canuper.

I haven’t run into anybody that really can tell me all the things that you’re telling me. That’s for sure.

Well, I’ve got resources, and I’ve got patience, and I’m as curious as a cat.

All right.

Very good. Pete, we really appreciate you calling us about this. And if we find anything more, we’ll be sure to blurt it out on the radio show, okay?

Oh, thank you very, very much. I appreciate it.

It’s our pleasure. Take care.

Bye-bye.

Bye, Pete.

If you know this word in reference to a drink of alcohol or something similar, let us know, words@waywordradio.org, or you can call us toll-free in the United States, including Minnesota, 877-929-9673.