Antedating of "Pig Latin"

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>There is a general sense of "Pig Latin" and a specific sense (ecificspay
>ensespay).  The OED's earliest citation for the general sense is 1937,
>and for the specific sense is 1944 or 1956 (exact meaning of the 1944
>citation is not perfectly clear).  Here are earlier examples:
>
>1929 _N.Y. Times_ 6 Oct. XX6  An old Roman expression, "Omnia notum
>tonsoribus," which, Durocher says, is pig Latin for "Barbers know
>everything and talk plenty." ....

And (in the general sense) even earlier (1869):

R. B. Kimball, "To-Day: A Romance", in _Putnam's Monthly Magazine_
13(17):604-618 (1869): p. 610: <<I had plenty of ammunition in reserve, to
say nothing, Tom, of our pig Latin. "Hoggibus, piggibus et shotam damnabile
grunto," and all that sort of thing ....>>

-- Doug Wilson