Before alarm clocks, there were knocker-uppers.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

?s=21

Tweet text:
Marina Amaral
@marinamaral2
Before alarm clocks, there were knocker-uppers. Mary Smith earned sixpence a week shooting dried peas at sleeping workers' windows.

Limehouse Fields, London.
Date unknown.
Image

[Arkansas Granny]

1. So, being knocked up had a different meaning in those days, I suppose.

[mitch96]

4. Or being awakened to the fact you are pregnant?? nt

[Yonnie3]

9. I was working in South Wales and was told, "I'll knock you up in the morning."

This was the mid 09's, so the term still lived.

[Siwsan]

2. The first time I went to London, the B&B owner asked me what time I'd like to get 'knocked up'.

FORTUNATELY, I was raised to be fluent in 'The Queen's English', as well as what's spoken here. None the less, I still had to suppress a very loud laugh.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. I always thought the pregnant meaning was British English. See also "knocking shop". . . nt

[Siwsan]

6. I'd always heard 'knock up' to mean 'wake up', is a British idiom

Perhaps the difference being the words 'be' or 'get'. And, one had to 'knock' at the 'knocking shop', to be allowed entrance!

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. Newp. "Up the spout", yes, but "knocked up" means "woken up" (n/t)

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. The "to wake up" meaning dates from England in 1663; "get pregnant" from the USA in 1813

Oxford English Dictionary:

To arouse by knocking at the door. (This sense is not current in the U.S.)

1663 S. Pepys Diary 11 Sept. "This morning, about 2 or 3 a-clock, knocked up in our backyard..I find it was the Constable and his watch."

To make (a woman) pregnant; (less commonly) to have sexual intercourse with (a woman). slang (originally U.S.).

1813 C. Earle Diary 12 Apr. in J. McPhee Pine Barrens "William Mick's widow arrived here in pursuit of J. Mick, who she says has knocked her up."

'Knocking-shop' is more recent still:

A brothel.

1860 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang "Knocking-shop, a brothel, or disreputable house frequented by prostitutes."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Interesting! Thanks. . . . nt

[SWBTATTReg]

5. Neat! This is exactly why I like DU so much, you learn so much other than just 'political' news...

[hlthe2b]

8. I think I might have enjoyed doing that. LOL

[dewsgirl]

10. Here's another, I love those old photo sites. I swear I remember

Photos of children doing this, I couldn't find them. Here's another though...

Link to tweet

?s=20

[CentralMass]

11. I missed my calling.

[2naSalit]

12. Is that anything like a door buzzard?

Must be an early model.

[Nevilledog]

13. *snicker*

[MyNameGoesHere]

14. Shirley you guest?

[2naSalit]

15. Oh...

Was that her name? I wonder if they invited her over.

[MoonRiver]

16. ROFL! Thanks for the laugh!

[JPbelgium]

17. Seems like a fun way to GOTV! (n/t)