Wednesday’s Word

Word: Mister, or Mister Man (N.)

Definition: form of address, male to male. (See “Chum”)

When called “Mister” by a total stranger in a challenging situation, best be leery. It can be tricky. If you’re at the Thistle Inn in Boothbay Harbor, say, and someone says, “Hold up there, Mister; what did you say to my chum here?” - well, you’d probably better settle your bill and go someplace else.

(Definition from: “How To Talk Yankee”, by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)