Let's play

[jester at PANIX.COM]

>
> >>I am trying to find out when "play date" first began to be used for a
> meeting
> arranged for children to play.  I've looked in all of our dictionaries here,
> and
> the few ones which DO have the term only define the broadcasting sense ("the
> play date for so-and-so is 8 pm on August 15th").<<

The Random House Webster's College Dictionary includes the sense
this correspondent seeks. I don't have it at hand, though, and
don't know what date it offers.

Jesse Sheidlower