Scared the pea wadden out of me

Posted by ESC on April 23, 2005

In Reply to: Scared the pea wadden out of me posted by ESC on April 23, 2005

: : What is the meaning or origin of "scared the pea wadden out of me". I am not sure that is spelled correctly - peewaden, peawadden?

: I found it in a volume of the "Dictionary of American Regional English." It was spelled "pee-wadding." But all the entry said was "See wadding." The problem with that is the DARE isn't up to W yet so we'll have to wait. I have heard the expression and the guy that said it was into old Kentucky long rifles. On that slim evidence alone, I'm wondering if wadding has to do with guns.

From Merriam-Webster: wad -- to hold in by a wad. Wad a bullet in a gun.