I always assumed that "arse" became "ass" from the Brit tendancy to soften the "r", which of course New Englanders still do...when the rest of America quit doing that, somehow the memory of hearing it pronounced "ahss" combined with seldom seeing it written led to confusing is with the term for a donkey...well, that's my idea, anyway, I can't prove it right, But you can't prove I'm wrong, either...

Mrs Lix, I know what you mean about the PA Dutch...used to know some guys from PA (German extaction) ...once one of them expressed surprise that down here we say, "push the door to," something he thought only the Dutch said...also had an ashtray w/ the words, "outen the smoke"...

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