Grommet

The first time I heard the term used was in the early 60's at Windan'sea in La Jolla. It was used by Butch VanArtsdalen as a derogatory euphemism meaning "little asshole".

I questioned some of the old timers (70+years) that I surf with and they recall hearing the expression used in the mid 40's to refer to anyone who was acting like a jerk, not just a youth. A retired navy captain recalls hearing it used during WWII, in the same manner, i.e. as an euhemism for asshole.

It makes sense that it would originate with the navy, as a 'grommet' is:

  1. a brass ring used in canvas work.
  2. a thick walled rubber washer.
  3. a ring made of one strand of rope laid around itself three times.
The last goes back to the days of the large sailing vessels. It's speculation, but I have to wonder if the ol'salts would refer to the cabin boy as 'grommet'?

Another interesting piece of slang that was on the beach in the 40's was beasel, beach+weasel, meaning a beach thief.

Ron St.John

stjohn@flosun.salk.edu