antedating of "battlewagon"

[Jonathan Lighter]

OED has 1927, HDAS 1918.

1909 _San Francisco Chronicle_ (Dec. 26) 4: Stationed on board all our
larger men of war, or “battle wagons,” as the boys call them, is a body of
men known as marines.

Undoubtedly older than that, since ships were referred to as "wagons" even
in Melville's day.  "Battlewagon"  become well-known only during the Second
World War.

JL




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