www.jscott1.com

WHAT IS THE SOURCE FOR SAYING GREAT SCOTT?
Jorge claims he is the one and only Great Scott yet since I've known Jorge he does make a lot of claims however here is other meanings for Scott.

Although most sources agree that the expression "Great Scott" refers to an exclamation of surprise, wonder, shock or disbelief, sources do not agree on its origin. Several sources purport that its origin relates to a colorful General in the U.S. Army, Winfield Scott.

Scott, who joined the army in 1809 at the age of 23, was originally nicknamed Fuss and Feathers due to his preoccupation with uniform and procedure. He became a hero in both the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. It was during the Mexican War, however, that he was possibly re-named "Great Scott."

In 1846, President James Polk sent General Scott and his troops to fight with Mexico over the territory that is now New Mexico and California. Scott and his men won numerous battles and successfully occupied Mexico City in 1848. Although these facts are quite verifiable, the actual reason for the first utterance of "Great Scott" is, however, not so clear.

Some sources report that Scott was smug and boastful, such that the use of the expression "Great Scott" would actually be a form of sarcasm. We do know that following his army service, Scott campaigned as the Whig candidate for U.S. President in 1852. During this campaign, many jeered him as Great Scott. He lost the election by a narrow margin to the Democratic candidate Franklin No matter what its origin, the expression has taken on a life of its own. Those who have adopted Great Scott as a name include a TV series, a band, a store chain, a wrestler and at least one television cartoon character. The phrase itself is frequently used by comic book heroes, and actors in movies and television. Great Scott is uttered in the movie Back to the Future, in The Chronicles of Narnia series of books, and by Mr. Wilson, a character in the Dennis the Menace TV series.

What does the expression "scot free" mean and what was its origin?

by Will M Member since:

June 13, 2006

To escape pursuers or avoid payment.Origin. Dred Scott was a black slave born in Virginia, USA in 1799. In several celebrated court cases, right up to the USA Supreme Court in 1857, he attempted to gain his freedom. These cases all failed but Scott was later made a free man by his 'owners', the Blow family. So, we don't need to look very far for the origin of scott free. Many people, especially in the USA, are convinced that the phrase originated with the story of Dred Scott. The etymology of this phrase shows danger of trying to prove a case on circumstantial evidence alone. In fact the phrase scot free has nothing to do with Dred Scott.

Given the reputation of Scotsmen to be careful with their money we might look to Scotland for the origin of scot free. Wrong again, but at least we are in the right part of the world now. A scot is a Scandinavian word for tax or payment. It came to the UK as a form of redistributive taxation which was levied as early the 13th century as a form of municipal poor relief. The term is a contraction of 'scot and lot'. Scot was the tax and lot, or allotment, was the share given to the poor. Scot as a term for tax has been used since then to mean many different types of tax. Whatever the tax, the phrase 'scot free' just refers to not paying one's taxes.No one likes paying tax and people have been getting off scot free since at least 1568, from when this reference comes - V. Skinner, in a translation of Montanus' Inquisition: