Quote:
Originally Posted by DMB
The American expression "Downtown" puzzled me for a long time. I think it's what we call the "city centre".
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Now I've got Petula Clark for an earworm, thankyouverymuch.
I had no idea that downtown was uniquely Yank. When something's in the common parlance I suppose you don't stop to question its etymology, it just sounds "normal".
I could look it up, but it's more fun to speculate. I wonder if downtown originated in New York, where the southern tip of Manhattan was settled first and spread northward? When you're in New York, downtown refers specifically to that part of the city, also known as Wall Street or the financial district. As an aside, the first capitol of the new USA was located on Wall Street.
"New York, New York, a helluva town, The Bronx is up but the Battery's down." Thank you, Comden and Green. Now move over, Petula.
Muddying the waters, downtown in New York can also just be part of town south of where you are at that moment; it's directional as well as a specific location.