The term is used to express that there are always multiple ways of accomplishing something. However, the origin apparently had nothing to do with being creative about the approach to completing a task. Charles Funk in “A Hog on Ice” writes that it came from watching children hanging by the hands from a branch or bar, drawing the legs up through the arms and over the branch, and pulling themselves up into a sitting position. The term first showed up in print around 1845.

Dictionary.com has several definitions as a noun, including an open compartment, hole or recess. However, it is other use I had in mind. The term is used to describe what others think of an individual’s class or status, and it usually is used in a critical manner. (“He was pigeonholed as one of the kids who won’t behave.”) It also is used to describe something that has been set aside for the present, probably with the intention of ignoring it. (“The boss pigeonholed my idea.”) Wikipedia describes the origin was a mathematical term developed in the 1800’s. The example given is there has to be two pigeons in at least one compartment if there are 10 pigeons and 9 compartments. The idea of pigeons in compartments then evolved into catagorizing people and putting suggestions into slots to be forgotten.

I had always thought the word “brand” in these expressions referred to manufacturer’s names that everyone would recognize, such as Ford, General Electric, etc. “The Straight Dope” says that the term “Brand-new” goes back to the middle ages and “referred to pottery or metalwork that had just been pulled from the fire in which it had hardened.” That was the origin of the term “brand name.” Wine corks are “branded,” as are cattle. An argument ensued about the meaning of the word “spanking.” One responder said it refers to the old term “span-nyr,” meaning “chip-new,” or the chips made by an axe. Another responder said the expression originated from the practice of midwives spanking a newborn to provoke crying and breathing. The author provided a discussion of several other possible sources of “spanking,” including the Danish word “spanke” (to strut), the Scandinavian word “spanking,” a sailor’s name for a fresh lively breeze, but no reference to spanking a baby. However, the author complimented the responder for a creative interpretation.

The book “Language of the Civil War” by John D. Wright ($85 on Amazon.com!) published in 2001 says that the term originated with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens. His extreme intelligence overcame his small size (90 pounds) and unhealthy appearance. The term “Smart Aleck” is used to describe someone using sarcastic, mocking humor in an argument, and Stephens was said to have earned that nickname. Several other sources, including Wikipedia,  say the term “Smart Alec” was coined to describe a con man named Alec Hoag who ran a pickpocket operation in the 1840s with the help of two policemen. He is said to have earned the nickname when he wound up in prison by trying to cheat the two policemen out of their cut. I think the fact that the expression doesn’t appear in print until 1865 adds credibility to the first explanation even though the second explanation has more references.

Yahoo’s Associated Content confirms what I had previously heard about the expression; it began when Roman soldiers were paid with salt. The word “soldier” literally meant “one who is paid in salt.” The pay was either made directly in salt or in “salarium,” which was an allowance for purchasing salt and is the origin of the word “salary.” A person is said to be earning their salary if they are described as being worth their salt. Biblical references for salt usually had positive meanings, such as when Jesus called the disciples “the salt of the earth.”