Some etymological stories are too long to fit into a single tweet, so here’s a quick story about how one man’s awkward encounter with Thomas Jefferson sparked a massively popular 19th century catchphrase. 1/9

Sometime around 1805, a few months into his second term as president, Jefferson was out riding near his home in Virginia when he happened to bump into another man on horseback, who accompanied him the rest the way. 2/9

The man, it soon emerged, was a staunch Federalist, vehemently opposed to Jefferson’s government and its politics. Unfortunately for him, he failed to recognise that his new riding companion was—er, the President of the United States. 3/9

As a result, he began badmouthing the president and his entire administration as the pair casually rode along together, side by side. Throughout it all, Jefferson remained quiet. 4/9

Eventually, they arrived back at Jefferson’s home, at which point the president—unfazed by his companion’s insults and opinions—invited him in for a drink. The man happily agreed, and asked for his new friend’s name so that he could thank him personally for his hospitality. 5/9

“Thomas Jefferson,” the President replied.

The man paused. “Well,” he said finally. “My name is Haines.”

And with that, he galloped away as fast as his horse could take him. 6/9

Jefferson reportedly relished this anecdote, and told it often. And, as it became better known, it established “My name is Haines” as a hugely popular catchphrase in American slang, dropped into conversation when someone needs to leave somewhere quickly or unexpectedly. 7/9

“There are thousands of people in this country who make use of the common expression ‘My name is Haines,’” explained one newspaper report in 1840, adding that it “enjoys a popularity which no other cant phrase has ever attained.” 8/9

Alas, it wasn’t to last. By the late 1800s, the popularity of ‘My name is Haines’ had dwindled, and by the turn of the century it had all but disappeared from the language.

Today, it survives only in the pages of the dictionary. Unless anyone really feels like reviving it… 9/9