It's a whatch-amacallit, you know? Quiz

Answer: A thick porridge

The word loblolly seems to come from combining lob, a Yorkshire word meaning to boil, and lolly, an old Englisjh word for a soup or stew. The term also came to be applied to a swampy area, where the footing was similar to that of a cooked gruel. In the days of sail the assistant to a ship's surgeon was often called the loblolly boy, in reference to the food he would serve to sick and injured sailors.

Answer: A counterman who drew soda from a tap

He usually wore a white cap. His job was much as a bartender who will pull the tap handle to draw you a draft beer. 'Jerk' has come to describe an inferior or insignificant person.

Answer: He's a fisherman

In the mid 15th century, the word described a 'fisher with hook and line'.

Answer: A policeman

'Copper' probably comes from the old English word for 'seize' or 'grab'. It has morphed into 'cop'. In the U.S., they are also referred to as 'heat' or 'fuzz'.

Answer: Accountant

The term has been in popular use since the 1950's. It can refer to any position which helps control costs and expenses.

Answer: An illegally distilled alcoholic drink

Kickapoo Joy Juice came to describe any strong liquor. Distilled by Lonesome Polecat and Hairless Joe, it was said that 'the potency is such that the fumes alone will melt the rivets on a battleship.'

Answer: A Thompson submachine gun

Thompson produced thousands of these guns for military use. By the time they were manufactured, however, World War I was over, so he sold them on the open market. The criminal element found them most useful.

Answer: New York City

The term comes from early jazz musicians, who referred to any city as an 'apple'. New York, of course, would be the 'Big Apple'.

Answer: Short

Short people, bless them, have been referred to as 'shorty', 'stumpy', 'pipsqueak' and 'fire plug', among many other things.

Answer: A not too clean dining establishment

Greasy spoons are slowly disappearing from the American landscape, due to the many fast food places around. They were also called 'roach palaces'.

Answer: On a ship

'Tar', 'swab jockey' and 'anchor clanker' are terms used by other branches of the U.S. military to describe sailors. It is in a good natured sense that these names are applied. Honest!

Answer: A taxi

'Hack' comes from 'hackney', a 16th century English term for 'ordinary horse'. It has been used at various times to describe any drudge or undesirable thing, such as a prostitute, hack writer or hack politician.

Answer: Arms and legs

They might also refer to the ball itself as a 'pill' or 'BB'. The bases are 'sacks' and home base is a 'plate'. Your shortstop may have a 'cannon for an arm'.

Answer: A cowboy

'Wrangler' in the western U.S. describes a person in charge of a group of cattle and/or horses. They can also be referred to as 'cow-punchers', but I have never heard of anybody actually punching a cow. But it wouldn't surprise me if it happened.

Answer: An overacting performer

'Ham' comes from early American minstrel shows and is a shortening of the word 'ham fatter' which referred to an overacting, inferior performer.