On Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:19:16 +0000, wrote:

On Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:09:35 -0000, Plusnet wrote:

Back in the 17th Century it was quite common to refer to "a black
woman" - meaning someone with black hair.

Even now we still talk about "a blond woman".

"Black Irish" referred to jet-black hair and nothing to do with other
organs or Hiberno-Caribbean musicians.

Some in our office used to have fun at the expence of certain imigrants
by calling them on the internal phone from the other end of the office
and asking to speak to Isaac Hunt.