Phrase "horn" for telephone

does anybody out there know where this phrase comes from. when talking to someone on the telephone, one can say "while I have you on the horn", where did horn come from.
thank you

Horn is slang for telephone for the same reason "horn" is applied to loudspeakers, ear trumpets, powder horns, etc. All of them resemble animal horns, e.g., ram's horns.

Replies

  • "Horn" R. Berg 21/January/04
    • "Horn" Bruce Kahl 21/January/04