Posted by Mark (leave feedback to contact me) on February 16, 2006 at 20:23:57:
In Reply to: origin of the term "shot" glass posted by guest on February 14, 2006 at 08:55:10:
What other stories have you guys heard?
The most common one that I hear is that the cowboys of the old west would trade a bullet (actually a cartridge made up of a bullet, gunpowder, primer and brass casing) for a drink. Since a cartridge was a "shot" the drink became known as a shot.
The main problem with this story is that the economics are wrong (whiskey is more valuable than a single cartridge). Also, the word "shotglass" or phrase "shot glass" does not appear in print until about 1950. If the cowboy origin was correct, the word should have showed up much earlier.
The same is true for the "place to collect shot pellets" origin -- since shotguns have been around for hundreds of years, the word should have showed up in print much earlier. The further back in time you go, the more rare and valuable glass is. It would not be used for something like collecting shot, especially since throwing the shot at the glass has the very likely outcome of breaking or damaging the glass.
Mark
: I noticed some type of explanation on the front page for the orgin of the term "shot" glass. Has anyone heard that a small glass was placed next to a plate after a hunting party. While eating the wild fowl / game that had just been peppered with birdshot the lead peelets would be disposed in the small glass next to the plate. Thus the term "shot" glass, a receptacle for lead pellets (shot) discharged from a shotgun.