Hop (drug)
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- For other uses, see Hop.
Look up hop in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Hop is a slang term used to refer to opium[1][2][3][4].
It can be used as a noun or adjective. The term dates to the late 19th century when opium smoking became a underground activity in American cities. At this time, opium was typically smuggled by the Chinese, who also ran the opium dens. Its etymology is unknown. It possibly started as an ersatz of hop (plant) for opium that, when first coined, would only be understood by persons who engaged in opium smoking. The term gradually lost popularity in the 20th century and is rarely used today.
Some common usages as an adjective
- hop joint — opium den
- hop pipe, hop toy — opium pipe
- hop dream — pipe dream
[edit] References
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary hop n.1 4.
- ^ The Lantern (New Orleans), May 14, 1886.
- ^ R. M. Lumiansky, 1948, ‘Opium Argot: New Orleans, 1887’, American Speech, Vol. 23, No. 3/4. (Oct. - Dec.), pp. 245-247.
- ^ Brennan F., 1973, ‘Smoking of opium or hop in the 20's and early 30's’, Clinical Toxicology, 6(4):611.
