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salty dog. Let's take a quiz, shall we?

A Salty Dog is:

a) A man of the sea who uses crude and colorful language.
b) A vodka cocktail made with grapefruit juice and salt.
c) A wiener coated in salt, like a pretzel. This regional favorite was first served at Blair County Stadium in Altoona, Pennsylvania in the late 1800's.
d) An American novelty dance done to the Salty Dog Rag.
e) Australian slang for a limp penis.

 

 

 

b and d are both correct answers.reference 1 I don't know about the others, except that I made them up. And, given what I have learned about the ways in which incorrect word meanings and origins proliferate, it would not surprise me to see these fictionary-like definitions turn up as authoritative in a few years.

I recall dancing the Salty Dog in a church basement in Greenwich Village in 1971 with my friend Nikki. Not being much of a dancer (and not being romantically interested in her, which might have provided some motivation) I found the whole experience somewhat harrowing. Unfortunately, it was her favorite dance to do and so we went around the floor with it every time the music, the Salty Dog Rag, was played. I found a number of descriptions on the net. Follow this link to see the directions for the dance: Salty Dog Rag.reference 2

1. Bruxvoort, Barbara. 1998. The Salty Dog. Accessed Oct 22 2001 from http:// myweb.wco.com/ ~jbrux/ bbrux/ html/ salty_dog.htm.

2. Slacks, Rosemary. 2001. Ballroom and Counrty/Western Dance (Dance Packet). University of Texas at Austin School of Education. Accessed Oct 22 2001 from http:// www.edb.utexas.edu/ coe/ depts/ kin/ Faculty/ slacks/ dancepacket.html.

As for the cocktail, also called a greyhound, I have never had one. This is what my Mr. Boston's tells me however:
- 2 oz Vodka
- 5 oz Grapefruit Juice
- 2 tsp Salt
- Lime Wedge
Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.reference 3

3. Cotton, Leo. 1964. Old Mr. Boston : De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide. Boston: Mr. Boston Distiller.

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About the illustrations: Both Figures 1 and 2 are digitally collaged by the author. © 2008 Jupiterimages Corporation.

see also: sea dog; hair of the dog

Last updated: July 28, 2008
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