The slang word sidekick describing a close male associate comes from the criminal world and first appeared about 1905.
The word referred to the criminal accomplice of a pickpocket.
From the mid-nineteenth century, the slang term for men’s pants had been kicks, and his pockets were on the side of his kicks.
The term arose because one man would trip or bump the mark while the other, his “sidekick,” would reach into and withdraw cash from the unlucky victim’s pocket.
One of the earliest recorded sidekicks may have been Enkidu, who adopted a sidekick role to Gilgamesh after they became allies in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Related Posts
-
Where does the word “company” (companion) come from and What does company mean?
When we speak of, say, "John Smith & Company," we do not think of a body of men sitting down and partaking of bread together, but, in its original sense, that is precisely…
-
What Does the Word “Distaff” Mean and How Did the Term For the Female Side of the Family Originate?
In medieval times the marriage bargain held men responsible for the physical labor outside of the home, while the women provided nourishment and comfort inside. A distaff was a rod used to hold…
-
What Does the Term “Aftermath” Mean and How Did the Word For Secondary Consequences Originate?
The chain of events set in motion by a major occurrence is often called an aftermath. The word "Math" is from an old English word meaning "to mow." The second, smaller crop of…
-
What Does the Word “Masse” Mean, How Did the Term Originate, and What Is a Masse Pool Shot?
A "masse" shot in pool is required when a ball is between the cue ball and the one a player is required to hit. To strike the target ball, a spin on the…
-
What Does the Word “Equestrian” Mean in Latin and How Did the Term For a Horseback Rider Originate?
Equestrian is a word used to describe a competitive horseback rider and entered English in 1656 as meaning a "knight on horseback." The horse has evolved over fifty million years to become the…
-
What Does the Word “Boondoggle” Mean and How Did the Term For a Useless Project Originate?
The word boondoggle was first used in 1935 to describe "make-work" projects during the New Deal of American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945). It meant any useless task created simply to give men…
