my word is my bond

[fields316_2000]

where did the phrase - 'my word is my bond' originate? I'd like to know due to trying to use this in an upcoming class im in...

 

[Rukas]

Its kind of hard to work out where a phrase like that comes from.

A bond is something you give to give commitment on a promise, thus word is bond means just that, that your word is good enough to count as a bond. Its hard to pinpoint where it came from because it is not slang.

In terms of Hip-Hop use, it becamse used by blacks in the Nation of Islam and Five Percenters, as it is used in their lessons, and then becamse a street thing, much like calling someone "God."

"Have you not learned that your word is bond? Yes, my word is bond and bond is life, I shall give my life, before my word shall fail.

 

[ill-matic]

Its kind of hard to work out where a phrase like that comes from.

A bond is something you give to give commitment on a promise, thus word is bond means just that, that your word is good enough to count as a bond. Its hard to pinpoint where it came from because it is not slang.

In terms of Hip-Hop use, it becamse used by blacks in the Nation of Islam and Five Percenters, as it is used in their lessons, and then becamse a street thing, much like calling someone "God."

"Have you not learned that your word is bond? Yes, my word is bond and bond is life, I shall give my life, before my word shall fail.

Where did that quote at the end come from? It's interesting, but I couldn't see it happening though. The human condition is too ambitious for a quote like that to be practical.

 

[Glockmatic]

Word is my Bond is an old saying from financial markets where traders would say "My word is my bond", meaning their word is good enough, they wouldn't need to write the deal down.

Rukas' quote is from Nation of Islam

 

[EDouble]

the financial market theory reads unwarranted

 

[Ristol]

the financial market theory reads unwarranted

As usual, that literally makes no sense at all.

I got this from a little detective work (Google):

It doesn't have an author. In this specific form it has for centuries been the motto of the London Stock Exchange, but in various forms (e.g. "a gentleman's/Englishman's word is as good as his bond") it goes back at least to 1500, when a Scottish source has ""O kingis word shuld be o kingis bonde".

 

[Shadows]

These days everybody's word is shit.

 

[Tha_Wood]

mostly mine