Rubberneck

[Fred Shapiro]

On Fri, 8 Sep 2000, Laurence Horn wrote:

> Interestingly, it doesn't seem to be in the OED.  This term (as
> either "rubbernecker" or "rubbernecking") is one I'm also familiar
> with from as far back as I can recall, but since I'm also from NYC &
> suburbs that doesn't add much.  But pace Alice, while rubberneckers

_Rubberneck_, often considered to be one of the greatest slang coinages,
is in the OED.  The earliest citation is from George Ade in 1896.
_Rubbernecking_ is recorded from 1927, _rubbernecker_ from 1934.

Fred


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
Associate Librarian for Public Services     YALE DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS
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