Herf, what a bloody awful word (sorry yanks) can't we do better

[daverave999]

The main point was that my good stout hearted british yeoman friend, who spends a lot of time in Florida and smokes a lot of cigars with our American cousins, didn't know what a 'Herf' was and as a result he didn't show and he's a good boy and he should have been there.

I'm surprised nobody has posted this yet:

The definitive posting on ASC comes from John Chunko, who wrote:

HERF - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The un-official word of ASC is Herf. Herf is a unique part of speech. It can be correctly used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, an adverb, an infinitive, a prefix, a suffix and an explicative. The arcane word "herf" first entered the ASC lexicon on November 21, 1996, and was quickly elevated to frenetic and common use by ASCers. The Prince of Skeeves exposed ASC to the word herf in a casual posting to the group... however it was ASCers, as a budding collective, who took the word and made it divine. Herf is now virulently spreading to worldwide common use as hip cigar parlance. HERF - CHRONOLOGY: As for the origin of Herf, here's the History of Herf (it's a matter of record on DejaNews)... The word "herf" first appeared on ASC... -------- [post quoted below] ---------------------------------- It was November 21, 1996... the elections were over, and "herf" unceremoniously beams into our lexicon... And, you were there (here's the exact post)... ************************************************** **** Subject: worst cigars IMHO From: aloysius@gte.net (Prince of Skeeves) 1996/11/21 Message-ID: <571i9b$ht4@news3.gte.net> Newsgroups: alt.smokers.cigars I bought a Canaria d'Oro(sic?)Robusto out of curiousity and it was really a horrible, stale,grassy smoke with a peed-on taste. I gave it about 2 inches before I put it out. Also, anything Macanudo...I tried several when I first began smoking cigars and found them all to be very bland and almost impossible to herf, they were so tightly wrapped. I think the list of `Mediocre Smokes' for most folks would be huge. ************************************************** **** And, the voices of ASCers cry out immediately... saying, "what is this _herf_ thing?" In answer... on November 23, Prince of Skeeves elucidates, Message-ID: <5770op$cqu@news1.gte.net>: To `herf' is to draw on a cigar. The voices of ASC follow in chorus: "this herf thing... it is good" And, in a grand gesture, full grace is shared... Subject: an early definition of the word... From: aloysius@gte.net (Prince of Skeeves) 1997/07/11 Message-ID: <5q5f19$dfa$1@news12.gte.net> Newsgroups: alt.smokers.cigars EVERYONE MUST HERF The first time I heard the word `herf' and recognized it's potential for the enrichment of my vocabulary was in junior college in Clyde, Texas in 1982 from a blueblood derelict friend of my named Stu. In the context of the time it was used to describe the ungainly and humorous facial contortion required to deeply draw on a large, hand-rolled cigarette of unknown filling while driving a motor vehicle and keeping an eye peeled for the Callahan County sheriff. Later I found the term `herf' described nicely the method for getting a good mouthful of tasty smoke from my favorite cigars.(Padron and HDM Rothschilds) S. delaVega Prince of Skeeves -------- [end quoted post] ---------------------------------- So, that's the herf story... on 11/21/96 "Prince of Skeeves" (whoever he/she/it is/was) introduced our newsgroup to its very own beloved word... And, as a bonus... HERF LEVITY: Herf... a word which is now spreading to virtually all corners of the cigar world... thanks to the likes of the many and varied distinguished herfing enthusiasts (herfnicks)... such as: the good Dr. Miguelit (used on his many national radio interviews), Mr. Lew Rothman (used proudly and prominently on JR's Winter catalog issue's front cover), ASC elder Mr. Bob Curtis (used liberally all over the ICG website), the Hon. Steven Saka (used strategically at least four times in the course of the 1997 New Hampshire state senatorial debate and once as an invective following the debate's broadcast, which, btw, was televised on CSPAN-3 to over a half-billion viewers worldwide, including the space shuttle mission crew), Connie Whittager, perky weatherwoman on Montgomery, Alabama's WKKG-TV (used to describe the fog which paralyzed suburban roadways for two straight days in April 1997... in an interview on the Weather Channel, she explained, "...motorists were advised to avoid the western beltway and all lakeside arteries due to a stationary fog bank thicker than a hundred hounddogs herfin' Hondurans in a hayloft", and by Jorge Jesus Delgado, Jr., now departed, (who ardently pleaded to "herf a cigar" before his execution in the Texas death-house in October 1997)... ...just to mention a few of the notables! PS: Remember... November 21 is World Herfing Day!!! Sorry you asked, huh? Regards, ...JC

I would therefore venture that it is specifically an internet word rather than an American one.

People use what feels right. If someone suggests something and it sticks then fair enough. Just seems a bit weird to be deciding to come up with a new word because the old one is American. If we come up with a new one, surely that will be LESS used and even more likely that your taxi driver friend wouldn't know what it means. Perhaps you should have used the phrase 'cigar night' to eliminate confusion Nic.

[TJCoro]

I'm workin' on it!

You're a bloody trouble maker!

Well maybe...but I'm trying senor serious

....I deleted "thin-skinned!"

TJ

[Robusto]

I love words, me.
I use them a lot.
I like fiddling with them.
I am often in a room where any word over three syllables doesn't connect.

Herf is a strange one.
To not like it is not to be anti-American.

If I were from the US, I wouldn't much like the words

Princess
Margaret

[Deano]

Where are the Scots on this?

You're a bloody trouble maker!

[TJCoro]

If Only...

i agree - and it was on the tip of my tongue to mention at the herf - but other conversation got in the way. Herf is too american for my taste - dont get me wrong, i have a large amount of american friends, spend a lot of time there and enjoy american culture... but this is Empire.

Careful lads. Let's not forget that there are many international members on this forum, including a few yanks.

I'm not a big fan the term "herf" and never quite understood what it meant, but I never considerd it "too american!"

Hell, I thought it was a Mexican term for rounding up gringos.

Where are the Scots on this?

don TJ and the Coros

[Ramon]

I played with a great Canadian drummer in the week but cannot find a name for a Canadian in the vein of 'yank' for US citizen.

You mean like 'Canuck'

[cigarsmoke]

On the subject of the word " Herf " I turned to Collins English Dictionary to find either an alternative or inspiration.

I have come up with " Combust " from the word Combustion - " the process of burning " or

" Conflag " from the word Conflagration - " a great destructive fire " .

Have to agree I dislike the word Herf as too American ( No offence chaps but we need a more British word )

[nicwing]

Respect to Rok for an ever thoughtful and well researched piece without too much sabre rattling.

I think GSS missed the point, probably my fault for, what I admit was a failrly prevocative thread title, but hey thanks for the biggest post of the year G man, can we get that in the Wikki?

The main point was that my good stout hearted british yeoman friend, who spends a lot of time in Florida and smokes a lot of cigars with our American cousins, didn't know what a 'Herf' was and as a result he didn't show and he's a good boy and he should have been there.

So far I like Cigar Soiree, trouble is, if we use the same measurement he would probably not know what that was or if he did, would not want to go because it sounds too effete (assuming he knows what effete is?)

Am I going round in circles here?

[deltawhisky]

WWHHOOOAAA, GSS, that is ... an encyclopaedia of all things nicotiana! You should receive an honorary professorship!

Back to the subject. Herf sounds a bit dark and dirty to me, perhaps like the very stogies I find myself burning. It sounds a bit ... wrong. Personal opinion, of course.

I like the confraternity of BOTLs - I think that has the weight which a collective of cigar enthusiasts deserves. So I would agree with the Confrat. idea.

Otherwise, I like the idea of a soiree of cigars (accent omitted) -- or, in the words of Robusto, just knocking off a fat bastard. Job done, lads.

[G-man]

Can anyone add to this for the forum

Removed: too large! Stick it on the wiki

[G-man]

conviv lets go conviv???LMAOROTF

How about meeting up for a 'conviv'?

Herfs are usually convivial affairs. Last night's herf was particularly convivial.

Come down my garden path and on to my shack sofa for a conviv.

It has a ring.

Guys were f_uckin with a word that is used world wide! What ever U choose is fine by me but,think about what your trying to do . Rewrite History.
I don't care either way but some have to much time on their hands.


















"She wore a Mount Rushmore T-shirt, and those guys never looked so good--especially Jefferson and Lincoln--kind of bloated, but happy."

[G-man]

What next ban all Yanks? LMFAO
I've seen this before! Lets have a pissing match Y don't we! Its a word Dam it and thats all it is. To the blue collar worker it fits just fine. MHO and as for B/SOTL now where going to rewrite the book on cigar slang? Oh here we go again a pollIs nothing ever good enough the way it is do we always have to fix what ain't broke?
What a world



A cigar is just a bunch of rolled up leaves
Its the B/SOTL behind it that makes it impressive!

[daverave999]

As cigar words go, I find herf more acceptable than BOTL.
Do we need 'a word'? This could have been the UKCF Meet, where you will all 'smoke cigars'. Crazy I know.

[rokkitsci]

Not So American, Really

Depending on whom you believe, the word "herf" derives either from:

"...in ASC [alt.smokers.cigars]. It originated as a spelling error. Some guy whose name is lost to history wrote a post about sheep herding. He accidentally typed a line about "herfing sheep." I [a chap named Bob Ray from http://www.uk-cigars.co.uk/herfs/herf1.htm] replied that sheep were hard to keep lit and that herfing cigars was a lot easier. Shortly after that, another guy, The Prince of Skeeves, used the phrase 'bueno herfing' to describe his experience with some good cigars."

Thus making the origin British.

Or, alternatively, this much more erudite explanation from CigarMan [same reference as Bob Ray, above]:

"The term 'herf' has been variously defined, incorrectly, in this group. After an extensive investigation of the term, I am able to provide a concise definition.

"The term is a derivative of several languages. To better understand the true meaning of the word one must realize that language is a changing thing; it moves about with various social structures, from land to land.

The Greek derivation is 'erphos' from 'eos', meaning 'skin'. This is further by a review of the Greek words 'Terphos' and 'Sterphos.' This is actually only the beginning of the common, or present usage of the term.

"An example of the way language travels, and is bastardized, is to be seen in the American Indian Language of Taino. In this language the use of the word 'Hura' means wind. The proper pronunciation is akin to 'Herf,' actually *hurrof*.

"Now, when you review the Greek's meanderings throughout the Ancient World, you will understand that they travelled to the British Isles. Any study can tell you this. The Welsh word we would look to is 'Herfeiddio', a verb which means to dare, to be brave, and to defy.

"Further north and a bit eastward, we must review the Dutch word 'Herfst' and the Anglo-Saxon derivative 'Haerfest.' These words refer to the autumnal season, or the end of summer.

"The end of summer is when they harvested the tobacco leaves. See also, the Greek word 'Apora', meaning 'end-of-summer'.

"Brave souls (Herfeiddiols), would take the freshly harvested leaves (Erphos=skin=tobacco leaves) at the harvest (Herfst/Haerfest) and smoke them. Somehow the word found it's way into America, pre-Columbus.

"The Taino people, simple and naive as they were, took all the above meanings and rolled them into one, thus 'Hura' meaning 'wind'. Review of the lore of the Taino finds this word used as both a verb and a noun. As a noun it has the simple meaning of 'wind,' as we use it, today. As a verb, however, it means: 'he who harvests the thin tobacco leaves of harvest time and smokes it.'"

In either case, the origin of the word "herf" is much more British than it is Amercan, so I don't see why we can't just leave it alone, thus eliminating what would be sure to cause confusion.

migh too sense

I had a few people at the Doggetts tell me that they find the word 'herf' too American and one guy, a Taxi driver who was due to do the walk but bailed at the last minute, actually assumed that I has mistyped the word and meant I was meeting him for a 'half'.

So with all the accumulated brains here (obviously excluding New Mexico) I would be sure we could come up with something more 'Anglo Saxon'.

What would Bertie Wooster have said, where did Dickens and Johnson go for a Cigar or a pipe (if we are historically acurate) where did The Waugh's father and sons head for a cigar.

I am sure we can do better.

Hey we could even end up with a poll!

[TJCoro]

Herf Alpert Got all the Latino Chicas!

a Bit of back ground into the word Herf i found on the net, don't know how accurate it is.

"The term "Herf" used to describe the smoking of a cigar comes from the 1960's in America when many cigar smokers listened to Herf Alpert and the Tijuana Brass while smoking their favorite stogie.

The famalia Coros always listen to "herf alpert" while enjoying fine Habanos.

don TJ and the Coros