Origin of the phrase "Tank"

[Dempsey-Louis]

There is an on-going argument as to whether the horse that beat Man 'O War, Upset was the origin of the term we use today.

The purists like to point out that the phrase was used before the horse race (pre-1919) but this has qualifications to it.

The phrase was used, but only on rare occasions and usually (if not always) appeared as two words "up set" and was usually part of a complete thought. E.g. Yale upset Harvard's plans for an undefeated season"

The term 'to upset the apple cart' was also used at the time but had no particular connection to sport. Often appearing in political and business narratives.

But once you get into the late 1920s (a few years after the horse race) the term had already become as common to sport as it is today, appearing often, and as a stand alone phrase. E.g. "The Jets upset the Colts."

If not for the horse the word would not be part of our sports lexicon today, so it is reasonable to say that the event (the horse race) did coin the term. But if you do, the 'purists' will yell on you.

With that off my chest, does anyone have any idea were the terms "to tank" - "he's in the tank" -- "tanker" came from?

Is it associated with the military or some sort of word play off the term "to take a dive" ?

It must have been in common use by the 1950s. In On the Waterfront, Terry Malone is refereed to as an "old tanker." But I havn't found any references earlier than that.

[ShoulderRoll]

In the vaudeville days they referred to certain places as "tank towns."

Which were small, unimportant hick towns where the tallest building was the town water tank.

Maybe the origin lies there.

[OctoberRed]

In the vaudeville days they referred to certain places as "tank towns."

Which were small, unimportant hick towns where the tallest building was the town water tank.

Maybe the origin lies there.

That's actually a good theory. Ive had that term before, but it didnt even cross my mind.

[Dempsey-Louis]

In the vaudeville days they referred to certain places as "tank towns."

Which were small, unimportant hick towns where the tallest building was the town water tank.

Maybe the origin lies there.

An unknown fighter from a small town; kinda like how they used the term 'ham and egger.'

OK that's a reasonable place to start but it then has to become associated with throwing a fight.

Here's a (fictional) promoter talking to a manger: "Don't worry I'll take care of you, your kid will be alright, I'm bringing in a tanker from Iowa."

Maybe, I can see how that might develop.

It is funny you should say Vaudeville; I always wondered if it went back to the small town carnival act of what they use to call a "high dive artist." The guy who would plunge 30 feet down into a small tank of water.

As late as 1966 I saw a guy (in Little Falls, New Jersey) go off a 30 foot platform into a pool of eight inches of water, unhurt. (I guess it was in the way he laid-out.) The crowd went whoa!

[mikeg1224]

My understanding of the origin of the phrases "To Tank" and "To Take a Dive" are as follows:

(1) In the 19th century, Americans called swimming pools "tanks".

(2) Therefore, to go into the pool was synonymous with "to go into the tank".

(3) "To go into the tank" was shortened over time to the phrase "to tank".

(4) Since a common way of entering a swimming pool was to dive into the pool, the phrase "to tank" took on the meaning of "to take a dive".

[Dempsey-Louis]

My understanding of the origin of the phrases "To Tank" and "To Take a Dive" are as follows:

(1) In the 19th century, Americans called swimming pools "tanks".

(2) Therefore, to go into the pool was synonymous with "to go into the tank".

(3) "To go into the tank" was shortened over time to the phrase "to tank".

(4) Since a common way of entering a swimming pool was to dive into the pool, the phrase "to tank" took on the meaning of "to take a dive".

That has always been my thoughts as well, but I asked the question because what seems a logical conclusion (in etymology) doesn't always turn out to be the truth. Sometimes we can get fooled by the logic.

E.g. Babe Ruth tried to sue the candy company and lost because the candy bar was't actually named after him, (its sale just skyrocketed and IMO he should have gotten a piece of the action.) But so many people today still believe the candy bar was named after him.

But, with that said, if I had to bet on the origin of 'tanker,' it's your argument I would bet on.

[OctoberRed]

But, with that said, if I had to bet on the origin of 'tanker,' it's your argument I would bet on.

That makes the most sense.