Break out the dictionary: what is the orig. of " shebang'?

[Shirley_Ujest]

I have looked for awhile ( when I can remember it) for the origin of the word " Shebang".

As in: the whole shebang.

I know it means " everything included."

[Wisest_Novel]

According to this site, here’s the answer.

A shebang, or chebang, is a hut or dwelling. It’s of unknown origin and dates to the early 1860s.

Mark Twain, in an 1869 letter to his publisher, is the first to use the phrase the whole chebang in its modern sense of the entirety.

I also found a nearly identical explanation here.

[samclem]

Dave Wilton says

A shebang , or chebang, is a hut or dwelling. Its of unknown origin and dates to the early 1860s.

He then offers that the “whole shebang” is first uttered by me, er uh, Mark Twain in 1869.

And, if you relly want to be confused, read The Maven at http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000203

[Wisest_Novel]

Oh, and I thougt I’d point out that the entry just above “whole shebang” in the latter reference is “whole nine yards,” in which the authors of wordorigins.org cite Cecil’s 1988 book, More of the Straight Dope, so they are clearly people of great discernment.