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Where did that bell that people ring at a bellhop's desk originate?

Question #94320. Asked by dj168.

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BRY2K
Answer has 4 votes
Currently Best Answer
BRY2K
16 year member
3707 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
I have a few bits and pieces of the story:

A bellboy was originally a ship's bell-ringer, later a hotel page. The job's name is derived from the fact that the hotel's front desk would ring a bell to summon an available employee, who would "hop" (jump) to attention at the desk in order to receive instructions.

Bellhop is a 1910 shortening of bellhopper (1900), from the notion of hopping to action at the ring of the bell. Bell-boy was originally (1851) a ship's bell-ringer, later (1861) a hotel page.

Here are some really cool historical photos of bellboys and antiquated bells from hotel lobbies:

link http://www.bellhop.org/otherBH.html

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellhop

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy

link http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=b&p=6

Apr 05 2008, 4:59 AM
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