Merriam-Webster says that the etymology of "jimmies" as "tiny rod-shaped bits of usually chocolate-flavored candy often sprinkled on ice cream" is unknown.
According to Wikpedia, the Just Born candy company says "jimmies" were named in the 1930's after a company employee, Jimmy Bartholomew. However, the Wikipedia article also reports that, in 2004, the Boston Globe investigated the etymology, citing a 1986 NPR commentary. In it, John Ciardi claimed to have heard the term in Boston as early as 1922.
The earliest I remember is driving down to Boston from New Hampshire in the 1950's and ordering jimmies on my huge vanilla cone at Brighams, We'd drive home with a box of Dorothy Muriel cupcakes.
On the back of the check at Friendly's it told the story:
When Jimmy had his brithday, he'd get a special treat, shaved chocolate on top of his ice cream. When his brother asked to get chocolate sprinkles on his ice cream too, his mother replied, "No, they're Jimmy's"
Merriam-Webster says that the etymology of "jimmies" as "tiny rod-shaped bits of usually chocolate-flavored candy often sprinkled on ice cream" is unknown.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wikpedia, the Just Born candy company says "jimmies" were named in the 1930's after a company employee, Jimmy Bartholomew. However, the Wikipedia article also reports that, in 2004, the Boston Globe investigated the etymology, citing a 1986 NPR commentary. In it, John Ciardi claimed to have heard the term in Boston as early as 1922.
The earliest I remember is driving down to Boston from New Hampshire in the 1950's and ordering jimmies on my huge vanilla cone at Brighams, We'd drive home with a box of Dorothy Muriel cupcakes.
Excellent collaboration and research!
ReplyDeleteOn the back of the check at Friendly's it told the story:
When Jimmy had his brithday, he'd get a special treat, shaved chocolate on top of his ice cream. When his brother asked to get chocolate sprinkles on his ice cream too, his mother replied, "No, they're Jimmy's"
;-)
The jimmie story reminds me of when Steve was a baby and asked me for "more."
ReplyDeleteI said what do you want more of - he said he wanted "more" and pointed to the refrigerator.
I was always asking him if he wanted more milk and he thought the word for milk was "more!"