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Re: My lans

Posted by ESC on August 26, 2009 at 18:07

In Reply to: Re: Well I swan posted by ESC on August 26, 2009 at 11:49:

: : Where did the phrase, 'Well I swan'...and...'Well My Lans' originate?

: Swan = swear. Several discussions in the archives including: http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/21/messages/436.html

Lan = land. And "land" is a "euphem for 'Lord,'" according to "Dictionary of American Regional English," Volume III by Frederic G. Cassidy and Joan Houston Hall (1996, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., and London, England). Page 284. 1834: For the land's sake. Land's sake!