I don’t know how we got on the subject. Actually, I’m not sure how we get on most topics that we do, but Friday afternoon in the office, when the work is slow and we’re itching for freedom, my coworkers and I decided it was critical that we knew the origin of the word, “shorty.”
“Shorty?” John turned around in his ergonomic chair.
“Yeah,” I said,”it’s kinda like boo. As in, Michael Phelps is my boo.”
“Michael Phelps is MY boo!”
Before Laura and I could attack each other with letter openers and sharpies over the love of our aquatic god, Shawn had Urban Dictionary up on the screen.
“Wow,” he said, hovering his mouse over definition number 2. “Apparently, it originally meant someone new to the game – either rapping or… selling crack.”
“So, in essence, our interns are shorties,” I said. “But that doesn’t really explain how it applies to women now…”
Turns out, Urban Dictionary couldn’t be counted on to really clear that up. But the first definition of the word did provide some amusement, if not enlightenment.
1. Shorty: affectionate term for a girlfriend, attractive female or concubine.
Okay, hold on. CONCUBINE? Like, King David concubines, or is this some new-fangled hip hop concubine? The more I learn, the more it seems as though I have a lot of investigating to do if I’m ever going to truly understand the complexity of being a shorty. One thing’s for certain, though. The interchangeability of shorty and concubine has made my world a richer place.
Yo concubine, it’s your birthday! Drink Barcardi like it’s your birthday!
I think that you just made my day!
I think a baby-mama or a baby-daddy could be considered a concubine if they were were unwed, yet cohabitating
Wow… do I feel old or what?!?!
For me, Shorty = 1. A person who is short in stature, 2. the nickname of the person who plays Shortstop on a base/softball team, or 3. an affectionate nickname given to younger cousins that are smaller than you.
Looks like I need to read the Urban Dictionary! Am I too far behind?!?
Ha, it’s not “Birthday”,it’s “Birfday”….
Actually, the definition of shorty I know is a less charitable one. It means someone you’d sleep with, but be embarrassed to be seen with in public.
It also goes by “shawty”…at least my teenage son tells me so.
Wow Terry B… there’s another new definition for me!
I would have to agree with Terry B. – Dictionary.com defines it as a woman who cohabits with a man to whom she is not legally married, esp. one regarded as socially or sexually subservient; mistress. Aren’t most rappers proud of the number of mistresses they have? BTW- I’m a big word geek!
I’ve always been super amused by short guys who called me shorty. Not that being called shorty has anything to do with height, but it just felt kind of ironic. Like when a 5’6″ guy referred to me as petite, recently (I’m 5’5″). It was all I could do to not ask him if he calls HIMSELF petite.
Kind of off topic, but am I the only person who finds Michael Phelps, how to put this nicely… really gawky looking/unattractive? Not taking away from his talent, but do people really think he’s hot (as opposed to just sexy)?
Snap, for Riz!?!
Yo! Michael Phelps is “MY” boo! or i wish =)
but i wouldn’t want to be his “shorty”
Love it!
Now all I’m going to think about when Fifty’s song comes on is you, this post, and concubines. Holllla!
Hey, you might want to check out this spelling of SHORTIE: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shortie. Not as exciting as concubine, I’ll give you that…
in other slangness. i’ve been wanting to incorporate ‘cut a bitch’ into my weekly slang since i find it amusing a la wayne brady in chapelle show (not misogynistically!). unfortunately, i’m just not that naturally angry or verbally violent a person. life is so hard.
i guess i should just stick with boos…
Just to bring your attention to your aquatic god for a bit. Check out Amanda Beard’s reaction to being asked if she and he have been getting it on in Beijing. The phrase “Ew, no!” features a lot:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26297627/
Remind me again how many golds SHE’s won?
What trips me up with convos like these, is I have to remind myself it’s not only had in the Black community.
Hip Hop has become so universal over time. Its not only our Battle Cry. It represents the voices of many.
Which is why, with complete comfort, anyone can spew these terms and phrases the “urban” have coined.
How interesting.
I didn’t realize “shorty” was anyone’s… battle cry.
Yes, acareo, the difference in meaning depends on the spelling. It is actually, “shawty”, which urbandictionary.com defines as a “fine ass woman, or your girl”. It makes a lot more sense that way.
Yeah, but where did *that* come from? Shorty. And where did shorty come from to mean women?
I looked up “boo” in the Rap Dictionary
and feel much smarter now.
I’m kinda with Amanda what’s-her-name on young Mr. Phelps, but that’s all right cause he’s Fish’s boo anyways!
ah, white people.
My life is also richer. That’s hilarious.
this…
this is absolutely hilarious!!
My husband calls me shawty ery now and again. And there is something about MrPhelps torso that makes me forget my marriage vows for about 8.9 secs. Him and Marcus Patrick. YUMMO..
Thanks for the giggles.. I had to comment, any post that breaks downteh definition of shawty is alright with me.
Really nice posts. I will be checking back here regularly.