antedating of "off-key" 1911

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Sun, Feb 01, 2004 at 10:06:18AM -0500, Fred Shapiro wrote:
> On Sun, 1 Feb 2004, Sam Clements wrote:
>
> > OED has 1929.  M-W has 1927.
> >
> > 20 Dec. 1911  _Monessen(PA) Daily Independent  4?/3
>
> Here's earlier:
>
> 1901 _N.Y. Times_ 24 Nov. SM7 (ProQuest)  "Whistle off key," he replied.
> "It works like a charm when you are tired and want a nap.

There's yet earlier (1899) in Cornell MOA, from the Atlantic Monthly.

Jesse Sheidlower
OED