Have you ever watched an American football game and heard players on the punt return team yelling “Peter!”? It’s a curious call, seemingly out of place amidst the grunts and shouts of the gridiron. For those unfamiliar with this piece of football jargon, “Peter” is a signal used by the punt return team, specifically by the returner, to instruct their teammates to get away from the ball and let it bounce or roll. This prevents them from accidentally touching the ball, which could result in a penalty or loss of potential yardage. But where does this peculiar term come from? The origin of “Peter” in this context is a fascinating, if somewhat murky, linguistic puzzle. Let’s delve into the possible roots of this football field cry and explore the theories behind why “Peter” became the word to signify “don’t touch that ball!”
The Football Field Enigma: Deciphering “Peter”
The question of why “Peter” is yelled to signal “leave the ball” in football is not a new one. Discussions online, like the one we’re drawing from, reveal a long-standing curiosity about this term. Many who hear it intuitively understand its meaning within the game but are left wondering about its etymology. Is it just an arbitrary word that caught on, or is there a deeper, more logical reason behind the choice of “Peter”?
One initial thought might be whether “Peter” in this football context is related to the common phrase “peter out.” “Peter out” means to gradually diminish or come to an end, often used in the context of resources or energy. While seemingly unrelated to football at first glance, could there be a connection?
Exploring Potential Origins: From Mining to Schoolyard Rhymes
Several intriguing, albeit speculative, theories have surfaced when attempting to trace the origins of “Peter” in football. Let’s examine some of the most discussed possibilities:
“Peter Out”: A Miner’s Term Turned Sports Slang?
The most compelling theory connects “Peter” in football to the phrase “peter out.” The forum discussion we referenced highlighted the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) definition of “peter out,” pointing to its early usage, particularly in U.S. mining slang. The OED defines “peter out” as:
- intr. To run out, decrease, or fade; gradually to come to an end or cease to exist. In early use esp. of a vein of ore (U.S. Mining slang). Usu. with out.
The provided citations in the OED entry date back to the mid-19th century, illustrating its historical usage in American English. One example from 1846 reads, “When my mineral petered why they all Petered me.” Another from 1865 describes a river that “quietly ‘peters out’ in a ‘sink’.”
The connection to mining is further strengthened by a theory mentioned in the original discussion suggesting that “peter” might have been slang for black powder in gold fields, derived from saltpetre, a key ingredient. When a mine was exhausted, even “peter” (the explosive) couldn’t yield more gold – the mine had “petered out.”
Could football slang have borrowed from this mining term? It’s plausible. The idea of something “petering out” – losing momentum, slowing down, coming to a stop – could be conceptually linked to a punted football that players want to let die, to lose its forward motion and stop rolling. By yelling “Peter,” players could be metaphorically instructing the ball to “peter out,” to lose its energy and come to a standstill.
Humor and Absurdity: The “Penis” and “Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater” Theories
Other, more humorous, theories mentioned in the forum thread are less likely but showcase the playful speculation surrounding the term. One suggestion posits that “peter” could be a euphemism for “penis,” something a football player wouldn’t want to touch. This theory, while amusing, seems tenuous and lacks substantial supporting evidence. Similar to this is the mention of some teams yelling “poison,” another thing one would certainly want to avoid touching.
Another whimsical idea connects “Peter” to the nursery rhyme “Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater,” suggesting it might be used because “he ‘couldn’t keep her’.” This interpretation is even more abstract and appears to be a lighthearted guess rather than a serious etymological proposition.
French Connection: Dismissing “Péter” and “Pied-à-Terre”
The forum discussion also briefly entertains and then dismisses a French origin. Eric Partridge, a lexicographer of slang, speculated that “peter out” might originate from the French word péter, meaning “to burst” or “explode.” However, this meaning contrasts with the English “peter out,” which implies a gradual decline. Furthermore, the idea of a French phrase being the root of “Peter” in American football seems unlikely given the directness and simplicity usually preferred in sports calls.
The suggestion of “pied-à-terre” (French for “a temporary lodging”) as a possible origin is quickly dismissed as humorous and irrelevant to the context of American football. The forum participants correctly point out the improbability of American football players shouting “Vacation home!” during a game.
“Peter” in Football: Simplicity and Practicality on the Field
While the definitive origin of “Peter” in football remains somewhat elusive, the “peter out” theory presents the most credible and linguistically sound explanation. Regardless of its precise etymological roots, the effectiveness of “Peter” as a football call lies in its brevity and distinctiveness. On a noisy football field, a short, sharp word like “Peter” is easily shouted and heard, cutting through the ambient noise and quickly conveying its crucial message: “Don’t touch the ball, let it stop!”
The evolution of slang and jargon is often organic and sometimes defies precise tracing. “Peter” in football may be a prime example of a term that emerged, possibly from a connection to “peter out,” and gained traction due to its practical utility on the field. It’s a testament to how language adapts and innovates within specific communities, in this case, the world of American football. So, the next time you hear “Peter!” during a punt return, you’ll know you’re witnessing a unique piece of gridiron lingo with a history as intriguing as the game itself.
