subs. (American).—See quots.
1861–5. [BARTLETT, Dictionary of Americanisms, s.v. SHEBANG]. A strange word that had its origin during the late civil war. It is applied alike to a room, a shop, or a hut, a tent, a cabin; an engine-house.
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms. SHEBANG … used even yet by students of Yale College and elsewhere to designate their rooms or a theatrical or other performance in a public hall, has its origin probably in a corruption of the French cabane, a hut, familiar to the troops that came from Louisiana, and constantly used in the Confederate camp for the simple huts, which they built with such alacrity and skill for their winter-quarters.
1872. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, xlvii. There’ll be a kerridge for you…. We’ve got a SHEBANG fixed up for you to stand behind.
1899. BINSTEAD, Houndsditch Day by Day, 198. In a four-wheeled fever-box you must take your beaver on your knees or get it hopelessly ruffled against the roof of the old SHEBANG.
1902. R. H. SAVAGE, Brought to Bay, ii. To-night, at your own SHEBANG, alone!
