Antedating of "Birdie" in Golf

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Wed, Apr 16, 2003 at 02:14:03PM -0400, Fred Shapiro wrote:
>
> Perhaps Barry can beat this using the Washington Post...
>
>
> birdie. n. (OED, 2., 1921)
>
> 192 _N.Y. Times_ 12 Sept. 10  There is practically no special American
  ^^^
I don't think the WP goes back that far....

> golf slang.  They talk about shooting a round in a certain score, and when
> they play a hole under par they call it "Birdie."

Jesse Sheidlower
OED