"Sambo" 1657, antedates OED 1704-

Joel S. Berson Berson at ATT.NET
Thu Sep 11 22:19:32 UTC 2008


It has just come to my attention that the OED contains the very of
one of my 1657 citations from Ligon, this one of "wore black, or eat
green" -- but for "green", not "Sambo"!

Joel

At 9/11/2008 01:01 PM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>I will ask on a list that might have experts on the period and
>location, but in the meanwhile:
>
>At 9/11/2008 10:33 AM, Baker, John wrote:
>>         I had supposed that "wore black" referred to clerical attire
>>(i.e., that Sambo was as moral as a clergyman),
>
>Possibly, but my sense of the period says skin color is more
>likely.  Also: "Sambo" was apparently part of a group of "axe-men"
>helping to cut a road.  Ligon writes, between the "compass"
>demonstration and the "wore black" text, that Sambo "desired me, that
>he might be made a Christian; for, he thought to be a Christian, was
>to be endued with all those knowledges he wanted."  So Sambo is not
>described as moral, but just wanting knowledge.
>
>>but "eat green" was a
>>complete mystery
>>
>>         It's interesting to see how old "Sambo" is.  Is this originally
>>an African name?
>
>I think there is dispute about the etymology; wasn't there something
>earlier this year on this list?  The OED takes its etymology as "[a.
>Sp. zambo, applied in America and Asia to persons of various degrees
>of mixed Negro and Indian or European blood; also, a name for a kind
>of yellow monkey; perh. identical with zambo bandy-legged (according
>to Diez repr. L. scambus).]"  There is a slight hint that the author
>of the article that pointed me to the 1657 citation thinks "Sambo"
>derives from an Akan day name; others on this list probably know more.
>
>Joel
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
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