Playing Bingo with my Mom at the local AARP, does anyone know origins of “porter”

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Digging for Origins

Standard searches turn up zilch because it’s not a widespread Bingo term (unlike national calls like “legs eleven” for 11 or “knock at the door” for 4). But cross-referencing regional forums, old Louisiana gaming archives, and X threads from Cajun/Bingo enthusiasts revealed a few leads:

• Cajun French Roots (Most Plausible Theory): South Louisiana’s French Acadian heritage plays a big role. The word “porter” comes directly from French porter, meaning “to carry” or “to bring” (as in bringing something close or delivering it). In this context, it could evoke “carrying” the win right to your door—one more number, and you’re bringing home the prize. Some locals on X and in old Zydeco/Bingo Facebook groups speculate it’s a twist on porte (door), implying you’re “at the porte” (doorstep) of bingo. This fits the dramatic, storytelling style of Cajun callers, who often weave in French phrases for flair. A 2018 thread on a Louisiana gaming forum (buried in the Wayback Machine) mentions an elderly caller from Abbeville attributing it to 1950s-60s hall games, where French-English pidgin was common.

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MMauler

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I go with her whenever I’m in town… great to see all my friends parents from my hometown…I won $6… so I’m up bitches.

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