Then, the term moonlighting has the traditional meaning of working a second job. Traditionally, the “first” job was the day job. Then, a person might take a second job at night. Hence, the second job was done by the light of the moon.
Of course, today, moonlighting refers to any second job no matter when it is worked. So, a person who works their regular job during the week, but takes a part-time job on the weekend is said to be moonlighting.
Yet a third,
and surprising, meaning of the term “moonlighting” comes from 19th century
Ireland. During a period of bad
harvests, a large number of Irish farmers were unable to pay their mortgages
and rents. When they lost their farms
for their default, others took their place often obtaining the same farms at a
fraction of the cost or rent that had been paid by the previous owners.
Legislation was introduced into Parliament to stop the defaults but, after long debate, none were passed into law. Many believed that, when the government didn't provide relief, the farmers who lost their land developed an organized group of sympathizers who began maiming and killing the new landowners’ cattle at night. The purpose, it was thought, was to frighten potential buyers so badly that no one would re-purchase the defaulted lands.
Like so many historical events of this type, the true facts and extent of the crimes were not well documented. For the most part, all that survive are sensational news reports. Neither were any moonlighters caught. So, no one ever told the “true” tale -- first hand. Some believe that the killings never happened and were the result of inventive news reporters. The stories fueled popular hysteria generating more (inaccurate) reports of yet more cattle deaths..
Either way, accounts of cattle killings continued for some time after the supporting political issues faded away. Some believe that the original political group that began the cattle moonlighting raids were replaced by simple criminals whose interest was in cattle rustling for profit.
Did the cattle deaths really happen?
What were the actual motives?
Who exactly committed the crimes?
No one knows the answers to these questions. So, the cattle moonlighting of 19th century Ireland remains a genuine mystery.
The fourth meaning of the word “moonlighting"?
Well, let me put it this way. To re-cap, "moonlighting" is the name of a type of light source: describes a person working a second job; refers to nocturnal attacks on cattle in the 19th century; and . . . was also a television series that premiered on 3 March 1985, starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. Although, the last episode of this series aired on 14 May 1989, the show is not just remembered, but has remained quite popular with die-hard fans.
But more about the TV show next week.
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