The Wisconsin Historical Society has recently published a book of stories/anecdotes about cemeteries under the title Badger Boneyards. I think it is disrespectful to refer to a cemetery as a boneyard, and wrote them to say so. Actually, I thought it not only disrespectful but a cheesy alliteration as well. I was told in response "The term “boneyard†dates back to the mid-nineteenth century and has been used in the United States to refer to a graveyard or cemetery in journalistic writings as well as in literary works from the 1840s to the present."
Okay, but in what context? Is boneyard a legitimate respectful name for cemetery - whether in 1840 or today?
Is there someone who can speak with authority in such matter? Thanks, Dennis
I am, in fact, a Badger.
I am not a linguistic authority.
But in my experience, both growing up in the Midwest, and now living in Arizona, I've heard "boneyard" used in many ways, none of which were disrespectful. I've heard the term used in casual conversation to mean cemeteries, scrap auto yards, flea sales, yard sales, even antique auto auctions. I think it's a pretty generic term these days. And I don't think the Wisconsin Historical Society was off base. That's the way we talked back there.
Heimhenge said:
I am, in fact, a Badger.
I am not a linguistic authority.
But in my experience, both growing up in the Midwest, and now living in Arizona, I've heard "boneyard" used in many ways, none of which were disrespectful. I've heard the term used in casual conversation to mean cemeteries, scrap auto yards, flea sales, yard sales, even antique auto auctions. I think it's a pretty generic term these days. And I don't think the Wisconsin Historical Society was off base. That's the way we talked back there.
I'm comfortable enough with "boneyard" to use it casually in recently asking a local utility manager about the place where they store old equipment and bits of stuff they've used in the past, and I consider it more appropriate for that than for an actual scary graveyard location where spirits might be offended and actual living people related to the residents might feel a bit of that and shiver.
Growing up playing games with my grandparents from Texas the draw pile in dominoes was always referred to as the bone yard or bone pile. I always assumed it was for the extras or leftovers.
Could be in response to bones really being all that is left of a body after the rest is used up.
Mine is not a family that plays a lot of dominoes, but I believe dominoes are called "bones" generally.
I've heard "boneyard" in playing dominoes, but I didn't realize it was also a term for a graveyard.