"Serbian", noun, 1739; antedating OED2 1848--

[Joel S. Berson]

I might have added that Grocka is about 20 miles southeast of the
center of Belgrade and the fortress, and in the direction from which
the Turks would be advancing.

Joel

At 5/18/2012 01:30 PM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>"Great Battle betwixt Serbians & Turks."
>
>New England Weekly Journal, 1739 Sept. 26, page 1, handwritten
>annotation at top of page.  (It is not known who annotated this year
>of the NEWJ. but it definitely is contemporaneous.)
>
>"Serbian" antedates OED2  Sense B.a. 1848--.
>
>I have copied this to ADS-L so that others may evaluate my
>reading.  The newspaper issue is accessible in Early American Newspapers.
>
>The article the annotation refers to is datelined London, August 8,
>and is introduced as "these farther Particulars of the Action at
>Crotzka, on the 11th ult. [that is, July] O.S. between the
>Imperialists and the Turks."  This is a reference to the "Battle of
>Grocka" (see Wikipedia), July 21-22 N.S., 1739, between the Austrians
>and the Turks.  The battle was crucial -- a psychologically
>devastating loss for the Austrians that led to the Ottoman capture
>of Belgrade.
>
>Grocka is described today as "a suburban neighborhood and one of 17
>municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of
>Serbia" (Wikipedia).
>
>Joel
>
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