Why do we call it a Flea Market???

Girlgonefishing, You are a walking, talking, living, breathing encyclopedia. Thanks for the information. That is so enlightening. I am learning more every day spending time here at Mylot. Don't you just love this place? So it is true just ask and it will be answered. I have so many questions running through my head I can hardly stand it... I lost my set of encyclopedias in the hurricanes and it is driving me nuts not having them to go to when I want to know something. My friends keep telling me "You don't need to know everything" but I keep asking anyway...LOL Hope you have a very Happy and safe New Year.

Great answer. I'll just add that it was intended for the low end peasantry which were often prone to fleas while the upper class had their own more refined ( flea free ) markets. It was sort of a put down to call it thus. Many of our modern put downs are derived in this way ( usually not taken so lightly ). For instance Before the battle of Ashencourt the french told the english army ( composed of mostly archers equiped with yew bows ) that after the battle they would cut off the index & forefinger of every archers right hand. Doing so would have prevented them from being able to shoot their bows again. After the english won the battle & during the subsequent occupation the english taunted the french by holding up these two fingers & saying "Pluck Yew". It has now evolved into the modern one finger & saying. If you find that amusing try researching the old nersury songs like London Bridge ( which was actually about the bridge's many disasters ) or Ring around the Rosey ( about the plague ).

You are so sweet Kowgirl. I try telling all of my friends to join MyLot because there is hardly ever anything that you can ask on here (that makes sense) that you don't get an answer to from someone.

Hey! Sissygrl I bet if you ask someone will know. I have the faintest idea what a Wing Dind is! Garage sales and yard sales ?? I guess things you sell from your garage are called garage sales and things you put out in your yard to sale makes it a yard sale???? Who knows where those expressions came from? Or who coined them.?

Well it was about to drive me batty, so I had to ask. Sure am glad the people in mylot are so smart...I am learning a lot from them.

That is a sound and logical answer. I guess now that the markets are stationary we who hop from one "Flea Market" to another would be called the "fleas"! Thanks to all you guys.