Great Scott!

[Michael Quinion]

> The following citation from ProQuest Historical Newspapers seems
> to supply at least a little evidence in support of the Winfield
> Scott theory:
>
> 1861 _N.Y. Times_ 22 May 4  These gathering hosts of loyal
> freemen, under the command of the great SCOTT.

That's another interesting antedating. If one wanted to be picky
about the association with General Scott, one would have to put in
evidence another example of exactly the words "the great Scott" in
"The Guardian Angel", by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr, in which it
refers without doubt to Sir Walter Scott ...


--
Michael Quinion
Editor, World Wide Words
E-mail: <TheEditor at worldwidewords.org>
Web: <http://www.worldwidewords.org/>