Holy Fucking Moley

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The “Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, H-O” by J.E. Lighter, Random House, New York, 1994, has this entry: “moley n. (pop. As a characteristic exclamation of ‘Captain Marvel,’ hero of a series of comic books begun 1940, first written by C.C. Beck; perh. reflecting ‘moly’ ‘magic herb in Greek mythology’, in allusion to the invocation of mythological figures as a source of the character’s powers; perh. euphem. and rhyming alt. of ‘holy Moses.’ In phrase: ‘holy moley’ (used as an exclamation of surprise). 1949 ‘Capt. Marvel Adventures, in Barrier & Williams ‘Book of Comics’ 87: Holey Moley! He got away.”

Posted on January 30, 2010
Filed Under Uncategorized, digital poetics, poetry | Leave a Comment

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