acknowledge the corn v phr

Also confess the corn, own ~; acknowledge the coin, ~ malt[acknowledge admit + corn corn liquor (DA corn 2, 1820 →); see AmSp 51.102–08]

Addit quots and varr in 1912 Thornton Amer. Gloss.

formerly widespread, now chiefly Midland

old-fash, joc

Orig, to admit to being drunk; by ext, to admit to any mistake, fault, or impropriety.

1839 Times-Picayune (New Orleans LA) 5 Apr 2/3 (AmSp 51.107) VA, We “acknowledge the corn.” . . The people there [=in Mississippi] do not drink one-tenth part of what they do in this state.
1842 Spirit of the Times 16 Mar (1912 Thornton Amer. Gloss.), Your honor, I confess the corn. I was royally drunk.
1861 Harper’s New Mth. Mag. 23.280/2 AR, Sure enough it was his own house. . . He ‘owned the corn,’ flung Cæsar a dollar to pay for the information, and passed the remainder of the night at home with his guests.
1865 Derby Squibob 171, Amos acknowledged the malt by a cheerful guffaw.
1908 DN 3.285 eAL, wGA, Acknowledge the corn. . . Sometimes acknowledge the coin is heard.
1923 DN 5.199 swMO.
1927 AmSp 2.347 WV.
1936 AmSp 11.316 Ozarks, Own the corn.
1940 in 1944 ADD nWV.

Share Link