[Ads-l] Teddy (undergarment), Teddy Bear (UNCLASSIFIED)

[sclements at NEO.RR.COM]

Back in 2009, I found a "teddy bear" stuffed animal from 1905 as follows:
[Fred is the master on this one.  I just got lucky with a wonky search engine over at Newspaperarchive.

>From the _Post Standard_ Syracuse NY  20 Nov. 1905  9/2

>An advertisement for D. Mccarthy & Sons( Department store), specifically the section about their Toyland]

>[quote] "Teddy" bears holding little cubs in their arms like real mothers are the latest arrivals; be sure to see them; see 
>all other things as they come along, but most are already here.[/quote]


Sam Clements

 
---- "Mullins wrote: 
> CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
> 
> For Teddy (undergarment) OED has 1924, with note "perhaps transf. use of sense 1" 
> (sense 1 is "Teddy bear", the stuffed animal doll).
> 
> I believe the note is almost certainly true; consider:
> 
> _The Whitewright [TX] Sun_ 2 Feb 1912 p 4 col 2 [display ad, newspapers.com]
> "Table Display.  Dainty corset covers, "Teddy Bear" combinations, drawers,
> skirts, gowns, and chemises, in wonderful variety, 3.50 and 3.75 garments, now
> only . . . . . . .  $2.75"
> 
> 
> _Houston Daily Post_ 26 Jul 1914 p 14 col 4 [display ad, newspapers.com]
> "Silk and Muslin Underwear 
> . . . . 
> Seco Silk Teddy Bear Combinations, Drawers and Bloomers, all  . . . . . . . . $1.45"
> 
> 
> _St. Louis Post-Dispatch_ 7 Oct 1914 p 6 col 5 [display ad, newspapers.com]
> "The "Teddy Bear" Combination is one of the most popular garments in vogue and plays
> a prominent part in the wardrobe of the well-gowned woman.  It is universally liked
> because it is made in one piece and serves in place of a corset cover and drawers."
> 
> _Junction City [KS] Daily Union_ 23 Dec 1915 p 6 col 1 [display adv, newspapers.com]
> "Kayser Silk Underwear 
> . . .  .
> Kayser Silk Teddies  . . . . $2.50 to $4.50"
> 
> 
> Under the entry for "Teddy Bear" is sense 4, "= TEDDY n. 3", that is, the undergarment, 
> with a date of 1978.
> 
> For the stuffed animal "Teddy Bear," OED has 22 Sept 1906.  Note that the etymology of 
> the toy "Teddy Bear" doesn't match the general origin of the toy itself, as is found in 
> Wikipedia.  But the late appearance of "Teddy Bear" (1906, rather than the date of the
> hunting trip in 1902) tends to support the OED explanation.
> 
> _Washington Post_ 15 Feb 1906 p 7 col 3  [display ad, newspapers.com]
> "Attention is called to a new invoice of the popular "Teddy Bear."  The demand for this
> toy at Christmas exceeded our stock on hand, and we ordered another lot, which we
> have just received."
> CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org