My old stamping ground

Posted by Masakim on March 12, 2002

In Reply to: My old stamping ground posted by ESC on March 12, 2002

: : : In a letter recently I used the term " old stomping grounds" to refer to a female friend's general area of residence when she was coming of age. Later I wondered if this was correct. If "stomping ground(s)" is akin to an area where bucks, for example, strut their stuff and paw the ground during rutting season, perhaps I'm on shaky ground using "stomping ground(s)" as a female's growing-up place.

: : In the UK 'stomping ground' is used for any place where a person regularly hangs out (where did that expression come from?). A person may have several such 'grounds' each indicating a particular activity , such where they often danced or watched soccer games etc. There's nothing derogatory in the phrase, although, like many expressions, it may take on a special meaning within a group or club.

: The way I've heard the phrase is "my old stamping ground" and it refers to buffalo. As in...

: Stamping Ground (Kentucky) is a small western Scott County town on KY 227 near the Locust Fork of North Elkhorn Creek and several springs. It was named for the activity of herds of bison in the area. The town was established in 1817 and named Herndonsville for the local Herndon family. In 1834 the name was changed to Stamping Ground. A Stamping Grounds post office operated for a short time in 1816. The Herndonsville post office operated from 1823 until 1834, when it was renamed Stamping Ground. The population in 1990 was 698.

stamping ground n. [late 19C] anywhere known as a 'lover's lane'. [the stamping of a stallion in rut]
stamping ground n. [20C] one's home territory, one's area of operation ... [18C SE, a place frequented by animals]
From Cassell's Dictionary of Slang by Jonathon Green