Re: Prose from Dover?

Posted by Bill Rodgers on August 25, 2000

In Reply to: Re: Prose from Dover? posted by Tom on August 18, 2000

: : : : ....Pros from Dover

: : : : Was this phrase in existence before Elliott Gould said it on M*A*S*H* ? If so, an someone help with it's origin and meaning?

: : : I found a site that claims the phrase is really "prose from dover"!
: : : Here is a paste from the site:

: : : "I think the word may be pronounced "proa". This is another name for a small ship and derives from the malay word "prau". It does not need much imagination to see how a word such as this could be distorted to "prose". As you know, Britain had an interest in this area in the past and many words which make little sense are still used today."

: : : Hmmmm...!

: : : prau
: : : any of various Indonesian boats usually without a deck that are propelled especially by sails or paddles

: : This same phrase came up before. But I can't remember what was said. I don't think anyone had an answer. I always thought it had something to do with the White Cliffs of Dover during World War II.

: From the script context below, one would think it means ~ experts.

: I'm the pro from Dover and this
: is my favorite caddie.

:
: Look, Mother. I want to go to
: work in one hour. We're the pros
: from Dover and we figure to crack
: that kid's chest and get out to
: the golf course before it's dark.

: He's the pro from Dover and I'm
: the Ghost of Smokey Joe.

: Don't give them any unnecessary
: details. Just say the pros from
: Dover are on their way with an
: emergency.

In the UK Prostitutes are knows as Pros. Hence Pros from Dover may originate from this fact, Dover is a port and where there were sailors there did you also find Pros - lots of pros.