You’ve probably woken up with a hangover and wondered where that word originated? Maybe not immediately, but after a few Tylenols and a Gatorade. I recently came across the term and did some research on why they call it a “hangover”? The answer might surprise you! The word has a history that’s a lot less boozy than you’d think.

The Real Story of the Word “Hangover.”

Believe it or not, when the term “hangover” first popped up in the late 19th century, it had absolutely nothing to do with alcohol. It was slang for “something left over from before”, like lingering business from a meeting or an old political issue. Think of it as the remnants of a past event.

It wasn’t until around 1902 that the meaning shifted to describe the miserable “after effects of excessive drinking.” It’s a clever metaphorical extension, right? The headache and nausea are simply what’s “left over” from a night of too many drinks.

The “Rope Bed” Myth

Here’s where it gets interesting. There’s a persistent myth that the word “hangover” came from a gruesome Victorian era practice where homeless people would pay a small fee to literally “hang over” a rope to sleep upright. It was also popular amongst sailors who would spend all their money on whiskey and hold back no funds for a place to crash. This makeshift lodging, sometimes called a “two penny hangover,” was a cheap alternative to a bed. In the morning, an attendant would cut the rope to wake everyone up. Yikes!  At least it would keep you off the floor and out of the muck.

While this practice was very real and a sad reflection of the extreme poverty back then in places like London, it’s not the origin of the word. Etymologists have confirmed that the term’s true roots are metaphorical, not literal. The story of the rope sleeping just stuck around because it’s such a vivid image. I mean, look at that picture. So, next time you’re recovering from a night out, you can at least rest easy knowing you’re not hanging from a rope!