What is the origin of the term 'Honky Tonk'?
by 
Ed the Jetpacking Headbanger
ANSWERS: 3
-
Honky Tonk "cheap night club," 1924, earlier honk-a-tonk (1894), of unknown origin. As a type of music played in that sort of low saloon, it is attested from 1933. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=honky-tonk
-
A honky tonk is a type of bar with musical entertainment common in the Southwestern and Southern United States, also called honkatonks, honkey-tonks, tonks or tunks. It is associated with various styles of american music. For more info please refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honky_tonk
-
I think a "tonk" was a bar predominately frequented by southern African Americans in the 20th century. Honky we all know was a black term used to refer to white people, so when white people started attending clubs where predominately black musicians played, it was referred to as a honky tonk. By the late 40's, any local bar that played any kind of music was referred to as a honky tonk. I grew up in the south and am a bit familiar with the term and that's how I learned about it.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC