Bum rap

Posted by ESC on March 20, 2005

In Reply to: Bum rap posted by DRC on March 19, 2005

: My puestion has to do with the origanal usage date and origin. I belive it has to do with the false charges brought against vagrants & the homless to get them off the streets for the night, but I have no proof. can any of you shed light on this subject?

Here's what it says in the archives:

Dictionary of American Slang, 1960, has "an instance of being identified, arrested, charged, tried, sentenced, punished, or placed in prison as a lawbreaker" as one meaning of "rap"; origin probably in 1920s. Meanings of "bum" include "false, untrue; inaccurate, unreliable."

• Bum rap ESC 20/March/05
  • Bum rap DRC 20/March/05
    • Bum rap ESC 20/March/05
      • Bum rap Bob 20/March/05