To moon

[smorodina]

Anyone know the origins of the phrase 'to moon' when exposing one's backside?

[Quizmonster]

The phrase has been used in this way only since the 1960s. The reference, surely, is to a large, round, white object, since 'moon' has been used as a verb in the sense of 'make white' since the 17th century.

[Quizmonster]

I should have added to the above answer the fact that it first appeared in print in a publication called 'Current Slang', published at the University of South Dakota in 1968. So, yet another one we owe to our American cousins.

[smorodina]

Interesting. The fact that it has only been around since the sixties lends creedence to one theory I have heard, that it was a favourite antic of the Who's joker Keith Moon - hence 'doing a Moon'. And, of course, they would have been well known in America at that time. Could this be its origin?

[Quizmonster]

I've never before heard of any connection with The Who's Keith Moon, whose name in this respect, I'd guess, is just a 'happy' coincidence. I believe the band first visited America in 1967 and we know the word first appeared in print there in 1968. Would just one year have been long enough for his antics to become part of American English, especially given that these things usually hang about in speech for ages before they're ever written down? I doubt it and will stick with the "large, round, white object" source myself. Cheers.