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Blossom · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 291 Location: Beijing China

When something is very new it is sometimes said to be spanking new, as in the sentence, �He was driving a spanking new Mercedes.� Why spanking?

If something is moving at a spanking pace it is moving quickly. Why spanking?

Neither of these seem to have any connection with spanking (hitting a child�s bottom with the hand)

iitimone7 · Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 400 Location: Indiana, USA

...it all depends on the context. using spanking as an adjective to describe is more of a regional thing.

in the first example, it means that he's driving a completely new car. it also infers (since the car is new) that it is shiny and gorgeous.

in the second example, you are correct.

i don't used spanking as an adjective...i think brits use it more.
correct, anyone?

iitimone7

Bob S. · Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Posts: 1767 Location: So. Cal

advoca · Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 422 Location: Beijing

This is a very interesting question, Blossom. I have tried to find out for you but have had only limited success.

The term, �Moving at a spanking pace� is usually applied in England to horses and is now somewhat old-fashioned and out of date. However, its use goes back a long way and it certainly appeared as far back as 1738. Its source is possibly Danish (Spanke = to strut).

Another theory is that it has the same origin as the sea-faring term spanker, a small sail set upon the mizzen-mast of a three-masted vessel, and the jigger-mast of a four-masted vessel. If a ship was moving at a spanking pace then it was moving briskly in the breeze.

Anyway, although the origin of the term is obscure it certainly has been in use for many years.

When it comes to the use of spanking in connection with newness there seems to be no information at all about the origin. The adjective has been in use for many years (certainly as far back as 1736) and is used informally to indicate extremely, strikingly, remarkably, or very. An example would be, �I saw three little girls in spanking new dresses�. However, as I said, there is no information (that I can find) about the origin of this usage.

In neither case, I feel sure, is there any connection with the punishment of slapping a child�s bottom several times with the hand, but Bud's suggestion about the link to birth is intriguing.

bud · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US

Yes, I found Bob's (and your) commentary interesting, too.