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Why Is a Fire Hydrant Called a Johnny Pump?

Why Is a Fire Hydrant Called a Johnny Pump? thumbnail
Fire hydrants are used mainly for public safety.

New York City fire hydrants were first installed in 1808, and by 1817 flip lid-style hydrants began to appear on street corners. The term "johnny pump" is a nickname for fire hydrants that originated in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn vernacular.

  1. Insight

    • In 1830, a Baltimore-based inventor named John Giraud created a pump utilizing a chamber of compressed air and hoses that could propel a significant stream of water a distance of a few hundred feet. The device was implemented into New York City's firefighting equipment during that time period. This development may be connected to the slang term johnny pump for a fire hydrant.

    In Literature

    • A book set in the Lower East Side of New York City at the turn of the 20th century makes reference to a fire hydrant as a johnny pump. "Call It Sleep" by Henry Roth was published in 1934 and is rich in New York City slang that was popular during that time period.

    Today

    • A johnny pump is now more commonly referred to as a fire hydrant in New York City. It is not unusual, though, for people of early generations who grew up in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and the surrounding areas to use the nickname johnny pump.

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  • Photo Credit fire hydrant image by tomcat2170 from Fotolia.com

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