jackassing
v.— «Mr. Brooker is such a good drummer that he doesn’t have to go “jackassing.” “Jackassing” is the trade term for taking samples to customers instead of having the customers come to the hotel to see the samples.» —“The Drummer Still Drums In Los Angeles” by Maddin Malone Los Angeles Times June 25, 1939. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when people disagreed over the best word to use when answering the phone. Alexander Graham Bell suggested answering with ahoy! but Thomas Edison was partial to hello! A fascinating new book about...
Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an opinionated romp through English grammar, a Spanish-language adventure novel, an account of 19th-century dictionary wars, and a gorgeously illustrated...