On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 21:37:59 -0600 (MDT), Emperor Wang
> wrote:

>> My impression (as a mere non-frock-wearing male of lower-middle
>> middle class origin) is that sometime in the mid-20th century in
>> the UK "frock" came to be used for "dress" as jocular or
>> ironic(BrE) understatement. I wouldn't be certain that this hint
>> of understatement has completely vanished.
>
>I know a girl who lives on the block
>She likes to do it in her sister's frock
>She likes to boogie
>She do the tube steak boogie
>Boogie woogie baby
>Boogie woogie all night long

That looks like a use of "frock" with its original meaning
rather than the extended meaning of a "dress" or "gown"(AmE).

--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

On Jun 7, 5:53 am, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" >
wrote:
> On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 21:37:59 -0600 (MDT), Emperor Wang
>
> > wrote:
> >> My impression (as a mere non-frock-wearing male of lower-middle
> >> middle class origin) is that sometime in the mid-20th century in
> >> the UK "frock" came to be used for "dress" as jocular or
> >> ironic(BrE) understatement. I wouldn't be certain that this hint
> >> of understatement has completely vanished.
>
> >I know a girl who lives on the block
> >She likes to do it in her sister's frock
>>And never strays too far from the flock
>>Maybe ewe know her too
> >She likes to boogie
> >She do the tube steak boogie
> >Boogie woogie baby
> >Boogie woogie all night long
>
> That looks like a use of "frock" with its original meaning
> rather than the extended meaning of a "dress" or "gown"(AmE).
>
> --
> Peter Duncanson, UK
> (in alt.usage.english)