Antedating of chicle(gum) 1884

Tue Mar 2 03:15:10 UTC 2004

M-w and OED have 1889.

>From the NYTimes(Proquest), March 24, 1884.

"In the basement of a substantial four-story brick building in Murray-street a Times reporter was shown the other day a great heap of what seemed to be broken pieces of putty.  Barrels and boxes around the room were filled with the substance.  "That," said the proprietor of the establishment, "is chicle.  It is the dried juice of the sapota tree, of Mexico.  Seventeen years ago, when Gen. Santa Anna was in this country, his secretary had with him a piece of this chicle. "

Sam Clements......

Another Straightdope followup.  How'd you guess?