Why are they called jock straps? by Answer Guy ESPN The Magazine | |
John Cronce, corporate historian, Jockey International: ... As I was saying, now you might ask why they're called jock straps. I thought I just did. Early bicycles, called penny farthings, had a giant front wheel and a tiny back wheel. People who rode them were called "bicycle jockeys," a term borrowed from horse racing.
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Whoa, déjà vu. Riders wore athletic supporters, called "bicycle jockey straps," later shortened to jock strap. Why did riders need jock straps? I've never ridden a penny farthing, but I've always imagined that if I did, the answer would become clear. Hmmm.
Annette Thompson, The Bicycle Museum of America: I'm not a man, but my male counterparts who've ridden penny farthings assure me that if I were, the answer would become clear. Déjà vu all over again!
Jim Corbett, vice president of marketing and sales, Bike Athletic Company: Bike started in Boston in 1874 when C.F. Bennett, one of our founders, invented the athletic supporter. He was a bicycle jockey. Early bikes had wooden seats and no springs. Combine that with the bumpy cobblestone streets of late-19th century Boston and the need for a jock strap becomes clear. This is too weird. As athletes in other sports began to wear them, "bicycle jockey strap" was shortened to "jock strap." Now you might ask why athletes are called "jocks." You know, I just might ...
Jim Rader, etymologist, Merriam-Webster, Inc.: It's short for jock strap, which, like jockey, comes from the name Jock. And as with Dick or Peter, Jock is an example of a proper name that is used as a euphemism for ... Then again, I might not.
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If you have questions for Answer Guy, e-mail him at answer.guy@espnmag.com. This article appears in the May 27 issue of ESPN The Magazine.
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Answer Guy: Why jockeys?
Why are they called jockeys? ...
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