# Street Slang: "Holmes"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 22, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042 "2011-12-22T00:49:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/1 "2011-12-22T00:49:52Z")
Betcha _this_ one’s been around the bend a few times? Is it short for “Homeboy” which got shortened to “Homie”? In most of the books I’ve read, it’s italisized as “holmes”, with an “l”. Or is it referencing _Sherlock Holmes_, and is meant as a compliment? If it’s short for “Homeboy”, shouldn’t it be “Ho’mes”? Can y’all tell this is a white guy askin"? ;)😃 In my defense, I have often said I am a fan of the English language and all it’s nuances, so that includes street slang. Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/2 "2011-12-22T04:15:46Z")
Made your accidental post a new topic for you, **Quasi**. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/3 "2011-12-22T04:22:00Z")
Thanks, **Idle Thoughts** , and I am sorry for the mistake. Q ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/4 "2011-12-22T04:51:41Z")
From [here](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Holmes): > [@](#): > > Term came into existence as a honorific after Larry Holmes defeated Gerry “The Great White Hope” Cooney, in spectacular fashion in 1982. Larry Holmes, a dominant heavyweight champion, won his first 48 professional fights Its orgin has no reference to Sherlock Holmes, John Holmes, or homeboy. It has come to be used in place homeboy, or just as a term for a stranger ie Jack or Buddy. It’s the 5th explanation provided. I could belive it to be the case based on when I first began to hear this term. Larry Holmes became the heavyweight champion in 1978 IIRC. But at that time I would have only been hearing a limited amount of street slang in Philadelphia. Any earlier use would quickly dispel that notion. I find the concept that it refers to the great detective kind of strange. The name Sherlock is very uncommon (I don’t know if any real person ever had it). If you want to refer to the detective, the name Sherlock will get you there without misunderstanding. It is also part of another common phrase, “No shit Sherlock”. But I got no idea what the truth is. You tell me Holmes. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/5 "2011-12-22T04:55:41Z")
Well, I’ll be! I just wikied it and it’s a much older term than I thought. Refers to 19th century migration and is short for home boy. As in the boys back home. I figured it was for home boy, but didn’t know the tie with moving approx. north. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/6 "2011-12-22T04:59:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > But I got no idea what the truth is. You tell me Holmes. Well. I’m clueless too, **TriP** , but if it’s an “honorific”, then _Holmes_ ;), I’m proud to call you my “Homie”! Thanks! Q ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/7 "2011-12-22T05:08:54Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > If it’s short for “Homeboy”, shouldn’t it be “Ho’mes”? No, that would only make sense if it was short for a longer word that began with “ho” and ended with “mes.” (I can’t think of any word that this would be.) ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/8 "2011-12-22T05:12:32Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > If it’s short for “Homeboy”, shouldn’t it be “Ho’mes”? “Homes.” People writing “Holmes” instead of “Homes” is item #1458231 in the list “Things that Drive Joe Bonkers.” Joe ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/9 "2011-12-22T05:18:27Z")
Okay. Well, _whatever_ the correct usage/pronounciation, I guess I’ll stay with “Homes” and hope I never have to use it. "Hi, Homes. Sir. Don’t worry about the slashed tires. I’m sure it was an accident, right _Homes_?"😉 (Is he looking the other way, yet???)🙂 Q ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/10 "2011-12-22T07:54:04Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Thanks, **Idle Thoughts** , and I am sorry for the mistake. > > Q Don’t sweat it. You’ll catch on when you’re not so new here. :: D & R:: ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-slang-holmes/607042/11 "2011-12-22T08:11:43Z")
_Throws used Depends, and wops **voguevixen** upside da head!_ :):)🙂 Thanks for the laff! Quasi