The Etymology of the Term "High Jingo" by Author Robert "Dr. Watson" Sadler Retired Dallas PD
October 21, 2017
Los Angeles, California
One of my favorite newly discovered words of late has been the term, “High Jingo.”
It was first introduced to me through the writings of one of my favorite mystery authors, Michael Connelley in several of his HARRY BOSCH novels.
My good friend, Robert J. Sadler, also an accomplished mystery writer, and Dallas P.I., knowing how much I liked and have used the term, sent me the following etymology via email yesterday. Very impressive and I wanted to share his summary with you. Enjoy.
Steve:
This evening the word (Jingo) came into my mind. Curiosity sent me to one of my favorite little books: “Word Origins and their Romantic Stories”. Where I found the
treatise on “Jingoism”. Which then let me to the OED, with its rather long and well-researched entries… and… at the end there is Harry Bosch! I hope you find this
interesting.
Click below for PDF on High Jingo.
High Jingo RJS pd
Robert J. Sadler Author Website
Yes, thanks for the word etymology!
————-
A few days ago I came across in a (new)bookstore a (brand?) new book on the Dahlia Case.
Book is by Piu Eatwell (must be a nom de plume!).
It’s entitled Black Dahlia, Red Rose.
I quickly skimmed a bit of it and the author, who seems to be a Brit, likes Leslie Dillon as the culprit.
Her treatment of your (to my mind all-but-established) hypothesis about GHH is, as you would imagine, negligible. She focuses on two elements: the captured confession of GHH “Supposin’ I did kill the Black Dahlia…” and GHH’s familiarity with Beth Short.
Naturally, I think that these two elements are, at best, minor elements in the case against GHH
but I don’t expect people offering alternate hypotheses to be ‘fair’ to rival hypotheses.
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Black-Dahlia-Red-Rose/
Richard R:
Yes, I saw the promo on it. Old news. Dillon was completely cleared by LE way back then.
See my September blog below. Regards, Steve.
http://stevehodeloldsite.staging.authorbyteshosting.com/2017/09/black-dahlia-leslie-dillondr-paul-de-river-fiasco-week-lapd-fubar-fouled-beyond-recognition/
Hi Steve,
High Jinko….That is a good word for these times once again!
As far as new theories on “Black Dahlia” first thing that comes to mine is ‘you had to be there’
nothing else sits with me…..than GHH
Hi Steve, I just read the post on facebook about the book Piu wrote about the black dahlia murder and that Dillon was the killer. I asked my dad about the murder years ago when I was a teen because he was an L.A.P.D. officer from 1947 until 1969. Maybe you knew him, his name was Ralph Green. He was a good man and a good police officer. He didn’t lime to tell me gruesome stuff. We lived in San Gabriel then. So do you think it was Dillon or do you still think it was your father? Was L. A. P.D. really that corrupt then? Why do you think your father was a serial killer? My husband and I also like the Bosch novels and the show on Amazon. My son is a police officer where we live now. Thanks for your time. Hillary.
Hi Hillary: No, I didn’t know your father back then.
No, Dillion did not kill Elizabeth Short. He was cleared back then in 1949. He was in San Francisco on the date of the murder, confirmed by LAPD and DA investigators. See my blog on it here:
http://stevehodeloldsite.staging.authorbyteshosting.com/2017/09/black-dahlia-leslie-dillondr-paul-de-river-fiasco-week-lapd-fubar-fouled-beyond-recognition/
Yes, George Hill was a serial killer. I have written four books now on all of his crimes. He was the prime suspect back then and they have his tape recorded confessions to a number of crimes including the Black Dahlia. See my website and books for details. Best Regards, Steve.
Sounds oddly
similar to 20’s slang
for high jinx. Don’t think
I’d be worried about my
career mind, these days
a person of interest is far
removed from what it used
to be ????
Thanks for publishing your research on “high jingo”. I smiled when I saw the Harry Bosch reference because I was listening to The Closers, book 11 of the Bosch series on Audible this morning and heard the term. Not being familiar with it, I had to look it up and came across this blog post. I really appreciate your help understanding the term, its usage, and history.
Mike G:
Yes, I like the term. GHH definitely qualified for sure.
My research that became “The Early Years” books 1920s and 1930s really underscored that reality.