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Grandfathered in...

Posted by ESC on July 08, 2000

In Reply to: Orgin of phrase? posted by Winn on July 07, 2000

: I'm looking for the origin of the phrase "grandfather clause" ..e.g. when changes are made that affects a group of people, some who were involved prior to the change are called "grandfathered in" and not affected by the change.
: Thanks.

I couldn't find this phrase in any of my reference books. But I have a notion that this originated in railroad days. Certain jobs were phrased out but the older men, the grandfathers, were kept on until retirement even though their jobs were no more.

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