Mayor Joins Charge To Get 'Jagoff' Added To Dictionary

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- If you turn to "J" in the dictionary, it's clear something's missing between "jaggy" and "jaguar." But a popular website is attempting to overcome the oversight.

This issue goes the top of city government.

A website photographer tapes Mayor Bill Peduto's entreaty to add the word to Webster's.

"Pittsburgh. One of the early founders, Ebeneezer Jagoff, was the guy who basically decided that we should build tunnels through our hills, and then once entering the tunnels, we should slow down the stagecoach."

The mayor shares this little known "history" with website creator John Chamberlin, whose blog urges supporters to sign a petition directed at Noah Webster himself.

"You find them trying to get onto the Fort Pitt Bridge when they use the exit lane going down to the North Side, all the way, and then try to get in at the last minute," said Peduto. "But you know where you don't find 'jagoff?' In the dictionary."

It certainly belongs in any dictionary of Pittsburghese.

But one question that people have about that word: is it a term of endearment, or is it actually kind of offensive?

"It represents us," Chamberlin says. "And some people say it's offensive. It's not really offensive. It comes from the word 'jaggerbush,' which means to poke. To jag."

"It's a term of endearment that one shares when one deserves to be called a 'jagoff,'" Mayor Peduto adds.

There is a method to this madness.

Chamberlin is president of Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation, which receives a dollar from "Three Guys Optical" for every online signature.

If you'd like to sign up to help make this happen, you have until Nov. 25 at 11:59: p.m. to do so.

Here's the link: http://chn.ge/1vriZoP

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Online Petition Aims To Get 'Jagoff' In Webster's Dictionary (10/14/14)
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