More Brooklynese: Johnny Pump

It's been really hot this week and the fire hydrants have been open day and night to provide both relief and entertainment. The fact that I refer to this implement as a "fire hydrant" is a dead giveaway that I'm a foreigner, as some delightful ladies who were sitting in lawn chairs in front of their stoop informed me a couple of evenings ago. When I snapped this photo they said "you're the third person today who has taken a picture of that johnny pump."

Comments

[Yvonne Pece]

Thank You......... Great time growing up in Brooklyn!!!

[pat]

I grew up in da Bronx we always called it a Johnny Pump Iwas in the BX last week with a friend from Boston she tried to park her car in front of one I said no theres a johnny pump there you cant park there. She had no idea when we we got out of the car she said Oh a fire Hydrant she asked why I called it a Johnny Pump, cause thats what it is. no sureon the reason for the name but glad I am not the only one.

[Ralph Polanco]

I was talking to two of my associates from CT that happen to be volunteer firemen. Being from Brooklyn, I mentioned the phrase "johnny pump," and they looked at me like I had two heads. I explained what it was and they swore they never heard of the term. I googled "johnny pump" and there was your website, which I sent to them. They laughed their heads off. Thanks for the for the picture.

[Victor]

I grew up in Red Hook Brooklyn and always knew them as Johnny Pumps. Later when i worked for the Brooklyn Historical Society i was told it was because the firemen of the late 1800's were called Johnnies. Being born just 15 years after WWII i remember many phrases such as "He japped me out". Language is an interesting and evolving thing eh?

[Peggy Best]

I just typed my aunt's story about growing up in Brooklyn. She mentioned a jonny pump. Not knowing what that was, I typed it into google and came up with your page and photo. Now I know it is a fire hydrant.

[Gordon]

"Johnny pump" would be a good nickname for the vac trucks that pump out septic tanks.

[The Fixer]

It was jonny pump for me too when I was young out here on Long Island, but when I was growing up, most of the folks out here were recent moves from the city.

[rachel]

I think we passed by it yesterday when we were getting stuff at the A&S Pork Store. Looked damn tempting...if we hadn't been carrying nearly 4 pounds of ground beef we might have run through it.

[Steve-o]

I've never heard that phrase/name before in my life. Doesn't even make sense.