Expression derivation
Posted by Bruce Kahl on November 26, 1999
In Reply to: Expression derivation posted by Richard Stock on November 26, 1999
: What is the derivation of the expression "Every thing is hunky dory".
Probably the most oft-heard story about "hunky-dory" holds that
there was, in the 19th century, a street in Yokohama, Japan, called
"Honcho-dori." It is said that Honcho-dori was the Times Square
of Yokohama, and thus a favorite hangout of U.S. sailors on shore
leave. So popular did this street become among sailors, it is said,
that "Honcho-dori" entered naval slang as "hunky-dory," a synonym
for "Easy Street," or a state of well-being and comfort.
Now, there actually is a "Honcho-dori" in Yokohama. (In fact, there's
one in many Japanese cities, because "Honcho-dori" translates roughly
as "Main Street.") But there are two problems with this story. One
is that there is no direct evidence of any connection between the
first appearance of "hunky-dory" around 1866 and U.S. sailors in
Japan or naval slang in general.
Problem number two is that a connection with "Honcho-dori" is somewhat
unnecessary. English already had the archaic American slang word
"hunk," meaning "safe," from the Dutch word "honk," meaning "goal,"
or "home" in a game. To achieve "hunk" or "hunky" in a child's game
was to make it "home" and win the game. So "hunky" already meant
"O.K."
Where the "dory" came from is more of a mystery. It may have arisen
as what linguists call "reduplication," or the emphatic, joking
repetition of parts of a word, as in "okey-dokey." Or the "dory"
may actually be a reference to the Japanese "Honcho-dori" grafted
on after "hunky" was already in use as slang. There is some evidence
that a Japanese stage performer popular in the U.S. claimed to have
introduced "hunky-dory" around 1865. What he actually may have done
is blend the name of a Japanese street with our American "hunky."
- Hunky-dory E. 11/30/99