Grecian bend

Grecian bend

The Grecian Bend was a dance move introduced to polite society in America just before the American Civil War. There were many songs published with "Grecian Bend" in their titles. Contemporary sheet music illustrations show a woman with a very large bustle and a very small parasol, bending forward. The "Bend" was considered very daring at the time. The bustle was, of course, prominently displayed during a "Grecian Bend." It was definitely not a way of walking. ["America's Music: From the Pilgrims to the Present (Music in American Life)" by Gilbert Chase - Nov 1992]

The term, by 1869, was a fashionable phrase for the much-admired effect of the bustle on ladies' dresses. ["Place Names of San Mateo County", pg. 37, Dr. Alan K. Brown. © Published San Mateo County Historical Association]

The term was also given to those who suffered from decompression sickness, or "the bends", due to working in caissons during the building of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The name was given because afflicted individuals characteristically arched their backs in the same manner as the then popular "Grecian Bend" fashion. [Kumar V., Abbas A., Fausto N. (2005), Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 7th ed. Elsevier Inc. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1]

Appearance in popular music

The term 'Grecian bend' appears in the song 'The Garden Where The Praties Grow' by
Johnny Patterson: "Have you ever been in love my boys
""Or have you felt the pain?
""I'd sooner be in jail myself
""Than be in love again
""For the girl I loved was beautiful
""I'd have you all to know
""And I met her in the garden
""Where the praties grow
"

"She was just the sort of creature boys
""That Nature did intend
""To walk right through the world my boys
""Without the Grecian bend
""Nor did she wear a chignon
""I'd have you all to know
""And I met her in the garden
""Where the praties grow
"

Notes


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Grecian bend — Grecian Gre cian , a. [Cf. {Greek.}] Of or pertaining to Greece; Greek. [1913 Webster] {Grecian bend}, among women, an affected carriage of the body, the upper part being inclined forward. [Collog.] {Grecian fire}. See {Greek fire}, under {Greek} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Grecian bend — (esp. in the late 19th century) a posture or walk, often considered fashionable, in which the body is bent forward from the waist. * * * Grecian bend noun A mode of walking with a slight bend forward, at one time affected by a few women in an… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Grecian bend — (esp. in the late 19th century) a posture or walk, often considered fashionable, in which the body is bent forward from the waist. * * * …   Universalium

  • Grecian — Gre cian , a. [Cf. {Greek.}] Of or pertaining to Greece; Greek. [1913 Webster] {Grecian bend}, among women, an affected carriage of the body, the upper part being inclined forward. [Collog.] {Grecian fire}. See {Greek fire}, under {Greek}. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Grecian fire — Grecian Gre cian , a. [Cf. {Greek.}] Of or pertaining to Greece; Greek. [1913 Webster] {Grecian bend}, among women, an affected carriage of the body, the upper part being inclined forward. [Collog.] {Grecian fire}. See {Greek fire}, under {Greek} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Maladie de décompression — La maladie de décompression (DCS en anglais pour Decompression sickness), la maladie des plongeurs, ou maladie des caissons fait souvent suite à l accident de décompression, un accident de plongée sous marine[1]. C’est le nom qu’on donne à une… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Accident De Décompression — L accident de décompression (sigle ADD) est un accident pouvant survenir en plongée sous marine. (En anglais DCS pour Decompression sickness, maladie de décompression) Il survient à des plongeurs descendus trop profondément ou trop longtemps et… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Accident de decompression — Accident de décompression L accident de décompression (sigle ADD) est un accident pouvant survenir en plongée sous marine. (En anglais DCS pour Decompression sickness, maladie de décompression) Il survient à des plongeurs descendus trop… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Accident de décompression — L accident de décompression (sigle ADD) (encore appelé anciennement et familièrement maladie des caissons et maintenant souvent désigné par Accident de désaturation) est un accident survenant notamment à l occasion d une plongée sous marine,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Maladie De Décompression — La maladie de décompression (DCS en anglais pour Decompression sickness), la maladie des plongeurs , ou maladie des caissons fait souvent suite à l accident de décompression, un accident de plongée sous marine.[1] C’est le nom qu’on donne à une… …   Wikipédia en Français

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