Where Does the Term Charley Horse Come From?

That question will be answered - well kind of - in this episode of, History of Everyday Sayings podcast.

Where does the term Charley Horse come from?

According to those who research such questions there are three possible sources for the term.

For our first, and perhaps the most interesting possible source, we journey back in time to the world of baseball in the 1880s and ‘90s. Enter a nag named Charley. Charley would pull a roller across the infield to smooth the turf so the Boys of Summer could play ball.

Exactly where Charley did his work isn’t 100 percent clear. Some history sources say Chicago and at least one other says it was a baseball park in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Over time, poor Charley apparently showed signs of discomfort. Baseball players who experienced stiffness or lameness were said to be suffering like “Charley the Horse", which ultimately led to such spasms, stiffness, or lameness as a “Charley Horse”.

Another theory points toward the term arising from the activities of constables known as “Charleys” in 17th Century England. The term “Charleys” found it’s way to the United States as a term for police officers who suffered frequent leg pain from long periods of walking, particularly when they had to walk on cobblestone streets.

Yet a third story points to a 1907, “Washington Post” story suggesting the term “charley horse” referred to a pitcher named, Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourne who had frequent leg cramps while playing games in the 1880s.

The term ultimately came to be used for baseball players and anyone else suffering from leg muscle cramps.

Which version is true? My vote goes to version one.

Why?

Because I believe poor Charley the Horse deserves all the recognition he can get for the many hours he spent pulling that roller across the baseball park infield so those Boys of Summer - whether in Chicago or Chattanooga - could play the game.

For more “Amazing History of Everyday Sayings” tasty auditory tidbits you can use to amaze friends and family, subscribe for free where you get your podcasts.

Host: Stephen Carter
Contact: Email CarterMethod@gmail.com

Sources:

- Robert Hendrickson, "The QPB Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins". Page 166.
- Webb Garrison, “Why You Say It”. Page 278.
- History by Zim Website: http://www.historybyzim.com/2013/03/charley-horse/

Mic: Ultravoice 8500