"Howdy" = "How die?"

[Cactus Wren]

Okay, this is nearly as good as the "picnic" fauxtymology:

A former boss of mine once told me that the greeting "Howdy" was offensive to American Indians. It derived, he explained, from "pioneer days" when white settlers would demand of Indians, "How die?" -- a short form of "How do you want to die?"

(He was himself an Indian-from-India, and seemed genuinely startled by my suggestion that "Howdy" could be a truncated form of "How do you do?")

[zephyra]

Haha, I never hear "howdy", and I'm from Texas.

I don't know why people want all these innocent words to have politically incorrect or scandalous beginnings. It's interesting, though.

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by Cactus Wren

A former boss of mine once told me that the greeting "Howdy" was offensive to American Indians. It derived, he explained, from "pioneer days" when white settlers would demand of Indians, "How die?" -- a short form of "How do you want to die?"

I thought this was going to be about the faux-Indian greeting: "How."

[zephyra]

Originally Posted by Tarquin Farquart

I thought this was going to be about the faux-Indian greeting: "How."

I did, too.

[Twankydillo]

I've known people in this part of the world who say "Howdy do!" (to be said very loudly and cheerily). Never 'howdy', though. It's definitely derived from "how do you do", though I don't think you're in any doubt since the "how die" story sounds very fauxtymology (good word!)

[Buckle Up]

So a ruthless settler bent on killing a native would allow said native to choose his manner of death? How nice of him!

[Seburiel]

Originally Posted by zephyra

Haha, I never hear "howdy", and I'm from Texas.

I don't know why people want all these innocent words to have politically incorrect or scandalous beginnings. It's interesting, though.

Maybe it depends on what part of texas you are from, the age group of the person you are talking to, etc.
Anecdotally, I tend to hear 'Howdy' about 2-3 times a day, on average. Usually from Caucasian or Hispanic males from 35-55. Usually, they're wearing some sort of 'cowboy' outfit (western shirt, jeans, boots, hat, etc.) but it almost seems tongue-in-cheek sometimes.

most folks 'round here just say 'hi'

[Mama Duck]

Originally Posted by Seburiel

:Anecdotally, I tend to hear 'Howdy' about 2-3 times a day, on average. Usually from Caucasian or Hispanic males from 35-55. Usually, they're wearing some sort of 'cowboy' outfit (western shirt, jeans, boots, hat, etc.) but it almost seems tongue-in-cheek sometimes.

I hear it a lot from A & M graduates. It does seem to be tongue in cheek at times though.

[Brad from Georgia]

Gee, I say it all the time. Sometimes "Howdy do?" sometimes "Howdy, Bub," sometimes "How do you dooooo?" like Bert Gordon doing the Mad Russian, sometimes "Hidy, hidy, hidy ho," if I'm in a Cab Calloway mood.

[RichardM]

And I start my weekly family letter with "Hosdy Y'all"

[Cowboy Joe]

Originally Posted by Brad from Georgia

Gee, I say it all the time. Sometimes "Howdy do?" sometimes "Howdy, Bub," sometimes "How do you dooooo?" like Bert Gordon doing the Mad Russian, sometimes "Hidy, hidy, hidy ho," if I'm in a Cab Calloway mood.

Yes, but couldn't the last one be construed as being offensive to prostitutes or other women of horizontal merriment?

This thread made me realize several things. I hear Howdy every day at least a couple of times, almost always I am the source, and it is always entirely tongue in cheek.

[zephyra]

I had a friend in college that hated it when I said "boy howdy", so I said it all the time.

[imjustasteph]

I think it probably comes from 'how do you do'. Several of my grandmom's old male friends say "How do?" and I've heard it shortened to "Howdy do?" as well.

[Tom o' Bedlam]

Wow. Are there really people who believe that? I'd say that's an even more transparent fabrication than the false "picnic" etymology.

I love how both seem to suggest that all whites of that era were monsters who killed people so casually that their terms for the practice effortlessly became standard words in the English lexicon.

[Avril]

Originally Posted by Brad from Georgia

Gee, I say it all the time. Sometimes "Howdy do?" sometimes "Howdy, Bub," sometimes "How do you dooooo?" like Bert Gordon doing the Mad Russian, sometimes "Hidy, hidy, hidy ho," if I'm in a Cab Calloway mood.

I once answered the phone with "Hidy, hidy, ho!" and was met with a click and a dial tone.

Avril

[Sunny Lea]

Originally Posted by imjustasteph

I think it probably comes from 'how do you do'. Several of my grandmom's old male friends say "How do?" and I've heard it shortened to "Howdy do?" as well.

I've been known to say "How do" and "Howdy" on occasion, although the latter with tongue firmly in cheek.

[The Goof]

I use howdy all the time, no tongue in cheek.

[Richard W]

Originally Posted by Tom o' Bedlam

I love how both seem to suggest that all whites of that era were monsters who killed people so casually that their terms for the practice effortlessly became standard words in the English lexicon.

What, you mean you don't any more? "Hasta la vista, baby," I say all the time before killing people. "Rambo isn't violent. I see Rambo as a philanthropist," too. Tch, young people these days and their indolent not-living-up-to-cultural-stereotypical ways.

(eta) This is far too cynical a response to your basic point, though, which was pretty decent. My name is Richard W. You killed my rhetoric. Prepare to die.

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by Richard W

(eta) This is far too cynical a response to your basic point, though, which was pretty decent. My name is Richard W. You killed my rhetoric. Prepare to die.

Don't you let us choose a method?

[BamaRainbow]

Well, I guess no one ever informed the late, great Minnie Pearl how offensive her trademark greeting was then.
Maybe the fact that she overemphasized (and greatly lengthened) the second syllable lessened the offensiveness.
Along with her hat with the price tag still attached and her check-patterned dress, Minnie was well-known for her "howdy".

ETA: "Howdy" was also the greeting of choice practiced by nearly every family on the great "rural" comedies of the 1960s (from "The Andy Griffith Show" to "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Petticoat Junction"; it was also Gomer Pyle's standard greeting).