[HPforGrownups]Hooch-wholesome Quidditch referee or liquor-selling prostitute?

[archeaologee]

No: HPFGUIDX 40660

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Laura Ingalls Huntley" wrote:
> Either way (whore, slut, or alcoholic beverage), I can't imagine 
what JKR was trying to tell us about Hooch's character by naming her 
that.

I checked the OED (Oxford English Dictionary, THE last word in 
matters of English word etimology, first use, authors to use it......)
online and Hooch is more commonly seen as a Scottish explanation by 
them.  I.e. "hooch man!", there was also something else about 
Scottishness and the word (dancing perhaps?)- but I did this a good 
while ago in response to the names in HP website and sent the 
research to them.

I thought JKR was trying to portray a sort of Scottish matriarch when 
I first read the name, hooch isn't as strongly linked to alcohol in 
my neck of the woods (although I do remember when the alcopops came 
out and Hooch was pretty much the first one, along with Two Dogs).

I'm not sure if it was even around when JKR was planning names for 
her characters. (although it was about ten years ago so could go 
either way)  Pretty sure she was in Scotland though (or on a train 
there ;-))


<snip>

> It would explain where Hagrid gets his ale and the single malt 
whiskey though, wouldn't it?  And why the Hogwarts teachers seem to 
have no problem staying away from their theoretical spouses for so 
long. *is warming to this theory*  

Me also like the idea of drink pussing teachers *wonders if Fred and 
George know yet, or will they have to wait untill they are eighteen*, 
although the two broomsticks ain't too far away.  But in my 
experience alcohol is more likely to increase shall we say 'romantic' 
encounters rather than make people content to do without ;-)


James (who has no idea if his research on Hoochyness or other names 
has been put online as he lost the website when he accidentaly 
deleted his favorites and cannot re-check as he has now left 
University and its accompanying subscription to the OED site, grr, 
also lost cheap beer)