What is the etymology of “cornhole”?
"Since being introduced to the bean bag-toss game of the same name, I've wondered about this word. The old farm game, similar to horseshoes, has recently gained such popularity that Googling cornhole is now anodyne. Aficionados are unapologetic about the game's name, but given the word's unsavory history, introducing the game to the unfamiliar can still be sheepish.
Checking Etymonline, I was surprised to find this:
cornhole synonymous with "do anal intercourse" by 1930s, apparently the reference is to a game played in the farming regions of the Ohio Valley in the U.S. from 19c., in which players take turns throwing a small bag full of feed corn at a raised platform with a hole in it.
Does the game's name really predate the word's other meaning(s)?
Where did the other meanings (I've seen it used as a noun and a verb) originate?
I'm interested in any substantiated clues to the historical development of this Americanism.
The Google Books search for "cornhole" between 1900-1965 reveals usage as anal sexing or people's names. The earliest sex reference in their list seems to be 1951 with "Don't let him cornhole you!" Moving the search to 1995-2005 begins revealing references to the game. All other date ranges previous involve anal sex, the anus, someone's name or a literal hole in the ground for corn. (I checked.) Naturally, this doesn't mean much about its out-of-book uses but it does give some metric.
Alternative sources include the American Cornhole Association with an unconvincing:
It has been said that the game originated in Germany in the 14th century, and then was rediscovered in the hills of Kentucky over 100 years ago.
And an article in (the Cincinnati?) Enquirer and the Corn Hole Game Association which essentially agree that history is contested and no date is available.
The game itself has probably been around as long as it was feasible to put corn or other seed into a sack and toss it at something. While the name cornhole would probably have been independently coined all over the place, its universal acceptance as a name of the game doesn't appear much earlier than the 2000s. There are often tales of people using the name earlier but apparently none of them ever decided to publish a book.
Given its other usage having already been published in various forms it seems safe to say the word's primary meaning during the mid-1900s was significantly less innocent than a game played with sacks of corn. Whether anyone was calling the game cornhole then or not, that was mostly likely not the meaning of the word.
In other news, a 500 reputation bounty may not be enough to sift through pages upon pages of Google book matches relating to anal sex.
This game was originally played in Germany round about the 14th century. A version of it is also played by the Blackhawk Indians in Illinois. It then recently gained popularity in the past century, and come to be known by its present name. One thing is certain however, the name 'cornhole' was not used when the game was first invented. It was only used when this game was 'rediscovered' in America recently. . .
======================================================================
American Cornhole League coming to Mesa
by Tom Scanlon, Tribune Managing Editor
https://www.themesatribune.com/news/american-cornhole-league-coming-to-mesa/article
Indeed, there’s a professional cornhole league – and it’s headed to Mesa. . .And a pro league is headed to one of the biggest sports facilities planned for the East Valley.
This week, Legacy Sports USA announced a partnership with the American Cornhole League to host an ACL Pro event at Legacy Sports Park every June for the next five years. . .“We are stoked to be heading to Legacy Sports Park over the next five years. The facility is an ultimate sports destination that will be a perfect fit for cornhole players and athletes,” said ACL Chief Marketing Officer Trey Ryder.
. . .The league is also focused on continuing to grow the sport “for any age and any skill level.”
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE ADVERT >
