Old & New Meanings Of "Boo Boo Kitty"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides some information and comments about the various meanings given to the term/name "Boo Boo Kitty". Selected videos that include the words "Boo Boo Kitty" are also featured in this post.

The content of this post is presented for linguistical, cultural and historical purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who published these videos on YouTube.

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OLD MEANINGS FOR "BOO BOO KITTY"
Several online commenters have written that "Boo Boo Kitty" comes from Gay people's use of the term "Boo Kitty" or "Boo Boo Kitty" as early as the 1960s:
From http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/02/empire-star-taraji-p-henson-her-signature-line-you-don%E2%80%99t-want-be-called-boo-boo
Corey Terrell Daniels, April 2015
"Boo Kitty" specifically is a term from underground gay culture of the 1970's and 1980's.... reference 'Paris is Burning' and you will hear a lot of pop culture language"...

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Reply
lexdiamonz > Corey Terrell Daniels, May 2015
"exactly and the mere fact that it was used in the tv show laverne and shirley SHOWS how gay culture was prevalent at the time even though it was unpopular then my dear old guncle *gay uncle* damn near 80 and was calling people boo boo kitty in the 60's lol"

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CS, April, 2015
"I heard the term over 10 years ago from a gay male work associate. He introduced me to it as he would call people that ALL the time, & I've used it ever since. It was big in the gay community. Wasn't just made up at all."
-snip-
My guess is that "Boo Kitty" and "Boo Boo Kitty" were affectionate terms for one's lover. But I'm not sure about that.

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On the 1970s American television series, Laverne & Shirley "Boo Boo Kitty" is the name of the black stuffed cat that Shirley held whenever she was sad.

Information about Laverne & Shirley series and a video of this series that features "Boo Boo Kitty" is found below.

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[Editor: The following quote gives two seperate meanings for "boo boo kitty"]
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Boo+boo+kitty

boo boo kitty
Affectionate pet name for your significant other

Space Ghost's cat
"Oh I miss you boo boo kitty."

"Oh I love you boo boo kitty."

"Oh, I'm so sorry I slept with your best friend boo boo kitty."
by Karie Hughes May 03, 2008
-snip-
In the context of "boo boo kitty"'s use as an affectionate name for your significant other (similar to "honey" and "sweetheart"), the word "boo" [pronounced to rhyme with the word "you"], is a folk processed form of the French word "beau" [pronounced to rhyme with the word "oh"] is "lover, boyfriend, girlfriend."
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Ghost
"Space Ghost is a fictional character created by Hanna-Barbera Productions and designed by Alex Toth for CBS in the 1960s.[1] Space Ghost is credited with being almost single-handedly responsible for the popularity of superhero cartoons in the 60's.
-snip-
A short video clip of Space Ghost crying "Boo Boo Kitty!" is found below.
-snip-
"Boo boo kitty" is still used as a pet (affectionate) name for your significant other as indicated by numerous internet merchandise and social media sites. Here are two examples of the use of "boo boo kitty" as an affectionate nickname and as a referent for a person's significant other
From https://instagram.com/p/i9-JxlEOpP/
[photograph signed by “spoiledrotten_spankieMe and my Boo Boo kitty @dtg_mixedbeauty #tbt” and “dtg_mixedbeautyAwwwwww i love u boo boo”]
-snip-
Many "boo boo kitty" coffee mugs, magnets, t shirts, and other merchandise have the signage "I [heart symbol] boo boo kitty. Here's a link to one such website: http://www.cafepress.com/+love-my-boo-boo-kitty+magnets

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The 2001 American comedy film Jay And Silent Bob Strikes Back includes the "term of endearment" "Boo Boo Kitty f&&k"* Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_and_Silent_Bob_Strike_Back for information about this film. A comment that references this film is given below in the "New Meanings Of Boo Boo Kitty" section below.
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in most quotes.

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NEW MEANINGS FOR "BOO BOO KITTY"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(2015_TV_series)
"Empire is an American drama television series which debuted on Fox on January 7, 2015. It centers on a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama among the members of the founders' family as they fight for control of the company. The show was created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, and stars Terrence Howard [as Lucious Lyons] and Taraji P. Henson [as his ex-wife Cookie Lyons]...

[Another lead character is ] Grace Gealey as Anika Calhoun, head of Empire Entertainment A&R and Lucious' ex fiancée. Cookie and Anika share an extreme dislike for each other,[13] with Cookie referring to Anika with the derisive nickname "Boo Boo Kitty".
-snip-
Anika is scripted as a snobby, elitist debutante. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debutante gives this definition for "debutante":
"A debutante or deb (from the French débutante, "female beginner") is a girl or young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity and, as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "debut" presentation."...
-snip-
Note that the editor/s of that Wikipedia page labeled "Boo Boo Kitty" as a derisive nickname. That is a new meaning for "Boo Boo Kitty". Here are a few quotes that reflect this new meaning for "boo boo kitty":
From http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/02/empire-star-taraji-p-henson-her-signature-line-you-don%E2%80%99t-want-be-called-boo-boo [hereafter given as "ew: Empire Star signature line"]
"So what exactly does “Boo Boo Kitty” mean? “You know what it is? It’s nasty nice,” explains [Taraji P. Henson. “You don’t want to be called Boo Boo Kitty. You know, it’s almost like when somebody calls you sweetie all the time. It’s almost like ‘bit&h’* without saying it.”
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this article.

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From "ew: Empire Star signature line" [comments]
This comment written in response to those bloggers who wrote that Taraji P. Henson got the name "Boo Boo Kitty" from the Laverne & Shirley series:
..."Get over yourselves. NO ONE OWNS ANYTHING AS WORDS! NO ONE! SO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CRED IS DUE...SHE CAME UP WITH the nickname boo boo kitty for the ANika character as a derogatory name for a pampered debutante trying to fit in in the hood!"

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Dan > Guest, April 2015
"No one disputes that [Shirley from the Laverne & Shirley show called her stuffed animal "Boo Boo Kitty"]. .. you do realize there are different meanings for different words and sayings right? "Sick" "ridiculous" and many others have several meanings today. ..in other cultures boo boo kitty is basically calling someone the b word without calling them the b word, and that meaning to the phrase has been around for ca long time as well. ..it just became known to a whole new audience when the character said it on the show. ..I doubt seriously Shirley's stuffed cat takes offense... just saying. ...oh that's a popular phrase today as well ;-)"

-snip-
"Boo boo kitty" also appears to be used as a general putdown, and not only as a referent for a spoiled, elitist woman. Here's an example of this use of that term:
From http://madamenoire.com/515249/malik-yoba-confirms-whether-or-not-jussie-smollett-is-gay/ Veronica Wells
[comments]
I'm quoting the entire exchange to add context to the ending comment that includes "boo boo kitty" used as a general put down.
LiiSH > Benicwin, April 2015
"Did the NFL player come out? I thought he was just sharing his moment with his boo who happened to be a boy."
-snip-
Notice the use of "boo" as a referent for a person's lover.

“came out” = publicly acknowledged that he is gay

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CAliQueen, April 2015
"If Jussie was committed to the LGBT community why not come out proudly as a gay man. Be proud and live out loud. But not to loud, some things gay or straight should be left to the privacy of your bedroom."

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Reply
Courtney Banks > CAliQueen, April 2015
"It's not as if gay people are having sex outside in broad daylight in the middle of the streets."

**
Reply
CAliQueen > Courtney Banks, April, 2015
"I said gay or straight. Get it right boo boo kitty."
-snip-
The use of "boo boo kitty" as a put-down may precede the 2015 Empire series as this commenter notes in the this comment from "ew: Empire Star signature line"
Lilly, April 2015
"Ummmm...me and my other roommates were using this as a put down in our senior year of college...in '00-'01. It's hardly new or original. Thanks.

(A bad situation was also boo boo kitty f'd)"
-snip-
This commenter replies to Lilly:
CannabisIsNotEvil, April 2015
"I'm sure she's [Taraji P. Henson] seen Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back in which Jay dubs Justice "Boo Boo Kitty F&&k"*..... could have stuck in her head
*This word was fully spelled out in this comment
-snip-
Read the reference to the 2001 American movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back that is given in the "Old Meanings Of Boo Boo Kitty" section that is found above.

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FEATURED VIDEOS THAT INCLUDE THE WORDS "BOO BOO KITTY"
Example #1: Laverne & Shirley - Shirley's Boo Boo Kitty - Nick at Nite Promo



laverneandshirley, Uploaded on Mar 24, 2011

Shirley... and her Childhood Doll, Boo Boo Kitty. Nick at Nite promo for Laverne and Shirley, circa about 1998.
-snip-
The American sitcom tv series aired from January 27, 1976, to May 10, 1983. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laverne_%26_Shirley

The 1998 date for the Nick at Nite airings were re-runs of the series.

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Example #2: Boo Boo Kitty ]Space Ghost]



Land of Kon, Uploaded on Feb 13, 2012

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Example #3: Empire: The Claws Come Out. Anika Vs Cookie.



Ten Insider, Published on Feb 25, 2015

Empire Premieres 9.00pm Sunday March 1.
-snip-
The word "bougie" that Cookie uses and Anika repeats is an African American clip of the word "bourgeoisie. A bougie person is snobbish (a person who thinks she or he is better than people who don't have money and status).

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Visitor comments are welcome.

What "Cutting Monkey Shines" & "Cut A Shine" Mean

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides information & speculations about the meanings of "cutting monkey shines" ("making monkey shines"), "cut a shine" ("cut shine), "cuttin up" and "cut a monkey".

This post is part of a continuing series that presents information and speculation about the meanings of certain words & phrases that are found in American Old Time Music and other music genres.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and educational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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MONKEY SHINE (MONKEYSHINE)
Definition #1 (verb)
"cutting" monkey shines (later "monkeyshines")
Acting silly (as monkeys are said to do), acting mischievously, making a prank out in public, making a public spectacle of yourself acting like a monkey

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Definition #2: (noun)
From http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkeyshine
"prank—usually used in plural
Examples of MONKEYSHINE

First Known Use of MONKEYSHINE
circa 1832"
-snip-
This statement probably refers to the Minstrel song "Jump Jim Crow". Information about that song is found below.
-snip-
Definition #3:
Monkeyshines [noun] mischievous or playful tricks, including jokingly making funny faces or gestures
From

http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2007/03/monkeyshine.html "TheGrammarphobia Blog"
"Monkeyshine! March 29th, 2007
Q: I’ve been curious about the word “monkeyshines” since I was a child and visited my grandmother, who was born in the early 20th century in a small town in Kansas. As we drove away, she’d make odd gestures and call out “monkeyshines.” I know that the word means acting up, but I wonder where it comes from. Does it have its origins in vaudeville or minstrel shows?

A: The word “monkeyshine” (often “monkeyshines”), referring to a mischievous or playful trick, has a very interesting and disturbing history.

It first appeared in 1828 (as “munky shines”) in a song by Thomas “Daddy” Rice, a popular white comedian who performed in blackface. In the song, called “Jump Jim Crow,” Rice sings and dances as an old plantation slave: “I cut so many munky shines, I dance de gallopade.” (The gallop, or gallopade, was a 19th-century dance.)

The song also gave us the term “Jim Crow” for segregation and other discrimination against African-Americans. But the use of the word “shine” as an abusive term for a black person may have nothing to do with Rice’s song. The usage didn’t appear in print until the early 20th century, well after the song’s heyday, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Your guess that “monkeyshine” comes from minstrel shows was right on target. In fact, some people consider “Daddy” Rice to be the father of minstrelsy.
-snip-
Italics added to highlight that sentence.

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Song Example For "Cut Monkey Shines" - "Jump Jim Crow" [1828]
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_Jim_Crow
"Jump Jim Crow" is a song and dance from 1828 that was done in blackface by white comedian Thomas Dartmouth (T.D.) "Daddy" Rice. The first song sheet edition appeared in the early 1830s, published by E. Riley.

...Come, listen, all you girls and boys, I'm just from Tuckahoe;
I'm going to sing a little song, My name's Jim Crow.
Chorus: Wheel about, and turn about, and do just so;
Every time I wheel about, I jump Jim Crow.
I went down to the river, I didn't mean to stay,
But there I saw so many girls, I couldn't get away.
I'm roaring on the fiddle, and down in old Virginia,
They say I play the scientific, like master Paganini,
I cut so many monkey shines, I dance the galoppade;
And when I'm done, I rest my head, on shovel, hoe or spade.
-snip-
Italics added by me to highlight that line.

My interpretation of the line which includes a reference to the gallop dance is that that dance was just a part of "cutting monkey shines". I don't believe that line means that "cutting monkey shines" always meant doing any dance.
-snip-
Here's an example of conversational use of the phrase "making monkey shines"
From http://www.folkstreams.net/principal,58http://www.folkstreams.net/principal,58 "Othar Turner, Cane Fife Maker" by William Ferris
[Otha Turner describing how he and other musicians attract a crowd for the community picnic he sponsors]
“Then I start the drums to playing and the cane fifes to blowing. We play "Shimmy She Wobble,"8 "My Baby Don't Stand No Cheating On Her."9 "Granny, Will Your Dog Bite?" "Rolling and Tumbling,"10 "Glory Hallelujah,1111 "When the Saints Go Marching In." We play all stuff like that you know. We got a whole lot of different pieces we play. You know, you can sing to the drums, we've sung to them many times and played. It just depends on what you want to do. But now ordinary playing in a picnic, that's just for drawing a crowd. We go out there and. go to playing the drums, sometimes go to hollering and playing and making monkey shine with the drums, just cutting up, you know. That's what will draw your crowd. That's what that's for."
-snip-
In the context of this conversation, "making monkey shine" means
having fun playing the drums, without any serious intent to perform any particular song, for instance, playing chords before an actual musical performance. The expression "monkeying around with ___" has a similar meaning.
From http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/monkey-around
"Monkeying around:
verb - intransitive
to mess around, waste time."
-snip-
Information about "just cutting up" is found below.

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Definition #4
(verb)
Black people purposely acting a fool in front of, pandering to White folks
From http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/4/messages/1048.html"I heard an African American comic talk about being criticized by members of his race for "cutting monkey shines" in front of white people. Meaning, as I understood it, acting all jolly in a manner that would please the white folks. Acting a fool. Pandering, I guess you could call it."
-snip-
Read the same definition below for "cutting the monkey".

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Definition #5:
noun - the name of a particular type of dance

In "Harlem Shuffle" by Bob & Earl [1966]

http://www.shsu.edu/lis_fwh/book/brill_building/Dance%20Crazes2.htm "Dance Crazes" *
"Bill Black's Combo- "Monkey-Shine" (1963)

Also in "Harlem Shuffle" by the Rolling Stones**

Excerpt for the Rolling Stones song:
From http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rollingstones/harlemshuffle.html
Huhuuuhuhuhuhuuuuuuh, hu!
You move it to the left, yeah, and you go for yourself.
You move it to the right, yeah, if it takes all night.
Now take it kinda slow,
with a whole lot of soul.
Don't move it too fast.
Just make it last.
You scratch just like a monkey.
Yeah ya do, real cool...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, do the Harlem Shuffle.
(Do the Monkey Shine)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, shake your tail feather, baby.
(Shake shake, shake shake yeah!)..."

* The R&B dance "The Monkey" probably came from the "Monkey Shine" dance. Visit that page for a list of other Rock & Roll/ R&B records including these songs that promoted the "Monkey" dance "Do The Monkey", "It's Monkey Time" and "Mickey's Monkey".

**Is the Rolling Stones' song a cover of the earlier Bob & Earl record?

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Editorial Comment:
I believe that the phrases "cutting a shine" ("cutting shine"), "cutting the monkey" ("cutting a monkey"; "cuttin monkey"), and "cutting up" all come from the phrase "cutting monkey shine" ("cutting monkeyshine").

DEFINITION #1: "CUT A SHINE"
Music Genres: American Minstrel, American Old Time Music
http://www.gatlinburgtnweather.com/southern_slang_dictionary.html
"cut a shine" - to dance"

Example:
From https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.music.country.old-time/ATTT1UtigL8
"Little Lula/Lulu/Lulie"

Oldtime1 [Joe Wilson], 5/29/97
Little Lula/Lulu/Lulie

Paul asked if there are two Lulu songs. Yes. The "Bang Away Lulu" lyric he quoted is not at all like "Shout Lulu." When I interviewed G. B. Grayson's oldest daughter, Lilly Grayson Sturdivant, in 1972 near Rising Sun, MD (with Ken Irwin and Marian Leighton), she told about his compositions. She said he did not write "Shout Lulu" and that she thought it was "an old song." If it was old when Grayson recorded it in the late 1920s, it may be
from minstrelsy. It certainly has the feel and rhythm of a minstrel song:
"Takes a nickle, takes a dime, To see Little Luly, cut a shine."...*
-snip-
Italics added to highligh that line.

Click the "Shout Lula" tag found below for several pancocojams post about this Old Time Music song, including a post about the Grayson & Whittier recording of that song.

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DEFINITION #2: "CUT A SHINE"
Music Genre: American Music Hall song

Definition
From http://www.omnilexica.com/?q=cut+a+shine
"Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English (1905)
Abridged from the Seven-volume Work, Entitled: Slang and Its Analogues by John Stephen Farmer, William Ernest Henley
to cut a shine, to make a show ; every shine, every one ; as verb, (a) to make a stir, or impression"
-snip-
I think that this definition of "cut a shine" - to make a positive impression [to shine like the sun] is a positive spin on the older meaning of "cutting a shine" in which the person showed off, making a public spectacle of himself or herself by acting like a monkey.

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Song Examples from http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=129161
[hereafter known as "Mudcat: McGuiness"]
posted by Joe Offer, Date: 30 Apr 10 - 02:28 AM
"Here are the lyrics from the 1880 sheet music at the American Memory Collection (Library of Congress):

WHEN MCGUINESS GETS A JOB
(Jim O'Neil & Jack Conroy)

CHORUS:
Then cheer up, Missus Reiley, don't give 'way to the blues,
You and I will cut a shine, new bonnets, and new shoes,
As for me, I'm done a-crying, no more will I sigh or sob,
I'll wait till times get better, when McGuiness gets a job.

Copyright 1880 by Mrs. Pauline Lieder"
-snip-
This song is also known as "Last Winter Was a Hard One"
-snip-
Italics added by me to highlight that line.

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"Mudcat: McGuiness" posted by Joe Offer, Date: 30 Apr 10 - 12:28 AM
"...Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:
Last Winter Was a Hard One
DESCRIPTION: Two Irish women lament the hard times. Neither woman's husband could find a job, and both families suffered. They curse the Italians who have arrived to take Irish jobs. They look forward to better times when their husbands find work
AUTHOR: Words: Jim O'Neil / Music: Jack Conroy
EARLIEST DATE: 1880 (sheet music)

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Music Genre: British Music Hall song
From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=126008
Lyr Req: I Do Like A S'Nice S'Mince S'Pie, posted by Jim Dixon, 24 Jan 11 - 03:18 PM
"The British Library [London] has the sheet music, described thus:

I DO LIKE A S'NICE S'MINCE S'PIE.
Written and composed by W. David and B. Lee.

Author: Worton David; Bert Lee
Publisher: London : Star Music Publishing Co, [1914]
Edition/Format: Musical score
My Old Red Vest
Chorus
I never get the knocker when the boys shout cock, cockly, cock, cock robin
With my old red vest I mean to cut shine.
Walking down the street, they call me danger on the line.
And the more they call out robin red breast, I'll wear it longer still.
I will have a red waistcoat, I will,
I will, I will, I will, I will, I will.
-snip-
Italics added by me to highlight that line.

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RELATED WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:
CUTTING UP [CUTTIN UP] (Usually given as "just cuttin up")
Definition: verb; acting silly, "actin a fool", (meaning purposely acting like a fool.

Example: Read the excerpt about Othar Turner above.

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CUTTING [THE] MONKEY
Definition #1
(verb) acting silly, acting [like] a fool

From http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/their-eyes-were-watching-god/study-help/full-glossary-for-their-eyes-were-watching-god
All them dat's goin' tuh cut de monkey in other words, if everyone has finished acting silly.
-snip-
From http://poetry.rapgenius.com/Zora-neale-hurston-their-eyes-were-watching-god-chap-16-lyrics

[WARNING - This book includes the n word fully spelled out and colorist language about dark skinned Black people.]

Italics were added by me to highlight that portion.

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Definition #2
(verb) showing off in front of White people, pandering to White people*

From http://poetry.rapgenius.com/Zora-neale-hurston-their-eyes-were-watching-god-chap-16-lyrics "Zora Neale Hurston – Their Eyes Were Watching God (Chap. 16)"
"We’se uh mingled people and all of us got black kinfolks as well as yaller kinfolks. How come you so against black?”

“And dey makes me tired. Always laughin’! Dey laughs too much and dey laughs too loud. Always singin’ ol’ n&&&er songs! Always cuttin’ de monkey for white folks."
-snip-
Italics were added by me to highlight that portion.

The second paragraph in this excerpt is spoken by a Black women who is sharing why she doesn't like dark skinned Black people.
-snip-
WARNING: The n word is fully spelled out in this book.

**
This usage is the same as Definition #4 for "cutting monkey shines"
which is found above.

*I believe that the expression about Black people "cutting the monkey" can be connected to, but isn't necessarily integral to the stereotype of Black people as monkeys. Click for information about that old & still current very negative stereotype.

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ADDENDUM
I'm intrigued by the common usage of the words "cut" and "cuttin" ("cutting") to mean "doing". Examples from Old Time Music are "cuttin monkeyshines" and "cutting a shine" (as well as "cut a shine" from Music Hall songs. "Cut the rug" meaning "to dance" is probably a more familiar, albeit mostly retired example of this use of the word "cut". Here's a comment about that expression:
"The term to "cut a rug" first started to emerge as a slang term for dancing in the 1920s. Use of the phrase persisted well into the 1940s, although the popularity of the term has since faded...

Like most slang, the origins of "cut a rug" as a synonym for dancing are disputed. Several competing theories to explain the idea have been bandied about, but none have been firmly proved. This is often the case with slang, which sometimes seems to catch on overnight..."
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-does-it-mean-to-cut-a-rug.htm
-snip-
It seems likely that this vernacular use of the word "cut" and "cutting" originated with African Americans. And, as the lyrics to "Jump Jim Crow" show, this use of "cut" document, that word was used that way as early as the 1830s. But I don't know why "cuttin" came to be used that way.

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