"Collateral Damage"

[Fred Shapiro]

On Fri, 18 Jan 2002, ANNE V. GILBERT wrote:

> I think "collateral damage" dates back to the Vietnam period.

It seems to me that the military usage probably derives from old legal
usage.  Below is the earliest I have found:

1839 _Edwards' Reports of Chancery Cases_ (N.Y.) III. 290 ff. (Westlaw)
Mr. Lawrence...objects, on account of collateral damage not being
allowed, i.e., furture damage from a supposed obstruction to the
navigation of Harlem river.


Fred Shapiro


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