GONE TO TEXAS, phr. (American).—Absconded. [Moonshining gentry used to mark G. T. T. on the doors of their abandoned dwellings as a consolation for inquiring creditors.] Fr., aller en Belgique. For synonyms, see SWARTWORT.
1835. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 5 S., ch. viii. ‘Before this misfortin came I used to do a considerable smart chance of business; but now it ’s time for me to cut dirt, and leave the country. I believe I must hang out the G. T. T. sign.’—‘Why, what the plague is that?’ says I. ‘GONE TO TEXAS,’ said he.
