Antedating of "Alky"

[Fred Shapiro]

The word _alky_ 'alcoholic' is dated 1960 by OED, 1956 by HDAS.  Here is
an earlier example:

1940 _Chicago Daily News_ 30 Apr. in _Alcoholics Anonymous 1939-1942_
"Alkies," they called themselves, or "rummies."

Fred Shapiro


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
Associate Librarian for Collections and     YALE DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS
  Access and Lecturer in Legal Research     Yale University Press,
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