Kelly day n. a day off or vacation day taken at a scheduled interval in addition to normal time off or vacation. Also Kelly shift. Etymological Note: It has been claimed as early as 1953 that this term comes from Edward Joseph Kelly, mayor of Chicago from 1933 to 1947. He is said to have put in place a similar plan for firefighters in 1936. An article on the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois web site includes a footnote for an article that may include more information about the origin of the term: “Action of City Council in Chicago Secures New Working Schedule for Fire Fighters,” International Fire Fighter, Washington, D.C., Vol. XIX, No. 6, June 1936, pp. 5-6. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
As we’ve previously discussed, firefighters don and dofftheir equipment, terms deriving from do on and do off. They are also said to dout a fire, meaning they “extinguish” it, dout being a similar shortening of do out. This is part...
The emotional appeal of handwriting and the emotional reveal of animal phrases. Should children be taught cursive writing in school, or is their time better spent studying other things? A handwritten note and a typed one may use the very same words...